In a bid to build the capacity of young persons in leadership, peacebuilding and advocacy,
a three-day train-the-trainers workshop was recently conducted for 40 young women and young
men in Abuja by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Nigeria, in partnership with
the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP).
National Coordinator of WANEP Nigeria- Chief Mrs. Bridget Osakwe said at the commencement of the workshop that though the United Nations Council on December 9, 2015, adopted Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) which was preceded by a series of advocacy efforts from a number of Non-Governmental Organizations, the adopted framework for peace has not been implemented in the country demanding the WANEP intervention.
Said she, “It was passed after more than 10,000 young people called for it in the Amman Youth Declaration, adopted during the Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security agenda which was very much inspired by the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
“However, these frameworks have not translated into meaningful participation of young men and
young women in formal Peacebuilding processes at the state or federal level in Nigeria, hence the
need for this training workshop”.
The training brought together 40 young women and young men from across the states in the
country and the federal capital territory. It had participants from conflicts affected communities, those religious and ethnic minorities, refugees and displaced women, women with disabilities, and other
Marginalized groups.
Speaking on the aims and objectives of the training workshop, WANEP’s programme head, Mrs.
Patience Ikpeh Obaulo highlighted creating and spreading awareness on Women Peace and Security, the Youth Peace and Security agenda as well as building the leadership capacity of youths for a better society.
“Raising awareness and consolidate knowledge on the WPS and YPS agendas amongst young
Persons, enhancing the leadership and pea rebuilding capacities of young persons to advocate for
the implementation of the WPS and YPS agendas, to establish a network of young persons and gender equality allies, that will meaningfully participate, influence and lead community-based peacebuilding particularly, the implementation of the WPS and YPS resolutions, serve as conflict monitors, advocacy for genre equality, women’s rights, human rights, and gender responsive humanitarian response, among others.”
The very interactive training revealed need for more engagement with youths on issues especially those relating to youth empowerment, peace and security.
Commenting on the outcome of the youth engagement, Chief Mrs. Bridget Osakwe said, “It was obvious that most participants were not aware of the resolutions as they have little knowledge on Women, Peace and Security and Youth Peace and Security.
“Since Nigeria is a country with the largest population of youth, it simply means that their lack of knowledge and understanding of the agendas is tantamount to lack of proper implementation of the WPS and YPS agendas even at the local level.”
The participants pledged to individually share and implement knowledge acquired from the training as they return to their different communities.
