REPORT OF HEFORSHE PLANNING/REVIEW MEETING VENUE: BENUE HOTELS, MAKURDI, BENUE STATE
| WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA PHASE II
REPORT OF HEFORSHE PLANNING/REVIEW MEETING Advertisements!!!  VENUE: BENUE HOTELS, MAKURDI, BENUE STATE |
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| 1 | Arrival /Registration | The meeting commenced with arrival of old members and new members to be inducted from 9:00am to 9.30am |
| 2 | Welcome, opening Agenda setting |
The representative of Commissioner, Women Affairs, Mrs. Magdalene Andor welcomed Members of the HeforShe Campions in Benue State and also appreciated UN Women and the HeforShe Leadership and Members in the State for working in synergy with the Ministry and assured of their support. According to her, the target is to build capacity for women mentoring for impact on the society and called for commitment of members as well as called on other stakeholders to key into the network.
Similarly, according to Mr. Nathaniel Awuapila, while giving highlight of UNR1325 said, the UN Resolution on women peace and security was adopted in Nigeria to implement policies and it has been working in state through many structures to achieved set objectives, increase women participation in peace intervention Women champion.
Also Professor Armstrong Adejo one of the Co- Coordinator while welcoming participants said HeforShe which established by UN women is a movement to close the gap between men and women through giving the women the desire support for them to be able to contribute in peace and security to make the change in the society.
HRH, Justin Terseer Hwakar, Stressed the need for traditional council to be part of the process and called on the Traditional Rulers to be inducted to support HeforShe in the state and beyond , especially in their domains.
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| 3 | WPS Programme in Nigeria Phase II | According to Peter Mancha the UN Women Programme Officer in his virtual presentation opined that UN Resolution on women peace and security was adopted in Nigeria to implement policies and it has been working in states like Bauchi and Benue through many structures like the Women Mediation Network, the State Implementation Committee, State Action Plan and the HeforShe Network to achieved set objectives, increase women participation in peace intervention and raise Women champion.
He said further that while Benue and Bauchi are now secondary beneficiary so as to consolidate on the gains and success of the Phase I, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa are in the Phase I of the project. He stressed further that the WPS Phase II project is set to achieve the following; 1. Develop the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP). 2. Legislative engagement on WPS . 3. Women leadership and political participation. 4. Women mediation.
The target is to build capacity of women through mentoring, advocacy and legislative framework. |
| 4 | Formal Induction of New Members | The Unit Coordinator of Nigerian Bar Association Michael Terhemen Assoh led 25 Members of NBA to be Inducted while Chief Ihwaka Justin leading HRH Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Aule presented 13 Traditional Rulers for induction.
The formal induction of the new entrants was under taken by Mr. Nathaniel Awuapila and assisted by Prof. Armstrong Adejoh and Chief Ihwakaa Justin
After the induction of Lawyers, the Chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Makurdi Branch, Mrs. Maimuna Ikwulonu in her statement of commitment noted that as an Association that is the voice of the voiceless, they have joined the HeforShe and have already commenced work by setting structures that will guarantee gender advocacy and legislative reforms or enactment
To his HRH Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Aule, he called for a legislation for women to be elected as president of the federal Republic of Nigeria after each eight years and promised to carry women along in his domain. He on behalf of the Traditional Rulers inducted assured of their support to the WPS project.
After the two groups were inducted , responding on behalf of new inductees, His Highness Chief, Clement kulugh who spoke for traditional rulers and Mr Theophilus Igba for the Bar expressed readiness in working as a team to achieved on the mandate of HeforShe.
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| 5 | Benue HeforShe Network | The state Coordinator of HeforShe Mr. Nathaniel Msen Awuapila said since inauguration in November in 2020 they have achieved a lot including:
Workshops /Induction for Nigerian Security and Civil defence Corps (NSCDC) Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air force . Also, Police and their officers have been inducted.
Influenced election of NBA with Woman emerging the Chairperson.
A woman appointed by Ter Makurdi (Traditional Ruler of Makurdi) as Council secretary. Using Radio stations and TV to sensitized people on the need on women peace and security programmes. Former Logo Council Chairman, Mr Isaac Agber said He selected some women in his council and visited traditional leaders to see how women could be carry along in resolute peace and security.
Former Councilor in Guma LGA and coordinator HeForShe, Hon. Ado Titus Tsekohol has mobilized women and paid visit to the Council Chairman, Traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure that women in Guma LGA are carried along in governance in the LGA.
Professor Dennis Teghtegh OF Benue Stae University (BSU) has contributed in assisting women through getting livelihood using his business venture. He acknowledged that if women are empowered, they can change the society.
Mr Japhet Kwaghhom of Benue Television HeforShe has given him the opportunity to liberate the women. He shared that Most of his TV programmes targets to promote women.
Challenges Highlighted Heforshe being not decentralized from urban to rural areas where most of the problems are more visible.
District Head Agatu Local Government, noted that as for as intelligence gathering, peace and security, women, remain very critical in achieving it and this is yet to be harnessed at the grassroot level.
Unavailability action plan that can be achieved without UN Women which will target all sectors such as Women groups, Media, Security, Academia, Politics, Religious and Traditional Leaders.
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| 6 | Group Work/ Presentation | To enhance Coordination and synergy with WPS Stakeholders including Ministry of Women Affairs State implementation Committee and Women Mediation Network the meeting splinted into three groups for a group discussion and subsequently presented. |
| 7 | Next Step | Ø Members to drew action plan that can be achieved without UN Women which will target and sustained advocacy across all sectors such as Women groups,
Ø Media, Security, Academia, Politics, Religious and Traditional Leaders. Ø Following the induction of two major group members from Traditional institution and the legal profession , so as to expand the scope of HeforShe in achieving greater milestones , same will be replicated across the Media , Civil societies , Academia, Law Enforcement etc. Ø HeforShe Members to work in synergy and in collaboration with The SIC , SAP with the Ministry. Ø Heforshe to be decentralized from urban to rural areas that is; to make the Local Government Units becomes more effective with active participation in HeforShe activities. Ø HeforShe to mobilized women in the state and pay courtesy visit to Council Chairman, Traditional rulers, media houses and other stakeholders to advocate for more women inclusion and participation .
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| 8 | Closing Remark | The representative of Commissioner, Women Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Andor appreciated the UN Women and the He or She Exco and Members of HeforShe for working in synergy with the Ministry and assured of
The MWSD continued support whiling calling on deliberate actions towards achieving the drawn action plan that can be achieved without UN Women.
The State Coordinator HeforShe, Mr Nathaniel Awuapila expressed gladness over the high level of attendance to the program and commitment. He promised to always invite members for meetings to achieve more results.
He assured that the inauguration and everything that has happened today will be communicated to the UN Woman.
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