The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has urged wives of royal fathers in the nation’s capital to be agents of change, noting that the role of women in conflict resolution was critical to unity and national development.
The minister who stated this at the advocacy forum organised for wives of graded chiefs in the territory also observed that in every crisis situation, it was the women that stood up to reclaim the soul of that nation and actively pushed parties back to the negotiation table or forced third-parties to bring the conflicts to an end.
A statement by the minister’s media aide, mr. Austine Elemue Aliyu, also expressed concern that women’s role in conflict resolution is often downplayed.
“Women’s peace-making efforts are not a strange phenomenon; it has been happening for decades. Classical examples of women’s efforts towards peace-building during conflicts or wars are endless. Women have been mobilising at the local level to effect change, including during and after civil wars.
“In fact, I can emphatically state that women’s active engagement in ending wars and all types of violence is critical. As mothers, let us not forget in a hurry that major wars start with civil unrest resulting from poorly-managed social discontent’’, he said.
