Stakeholders working on conflict management and resolution have called for the inclusion of women and traditional rulers in resolving conflicts in communities, with the aim of promoting peaceful coexistence.
The stakeholders made the call during a one-day Capacity Building on Conflict Management and Resolution for Chairmen, Traditional Rulers and Community Leaders in the FCT. The capacity building which held in Abuja was organized by the Federal Capital territory Administration-Area Councils Services Secretariat (FCTA- ACSS)
While speaking to traditional rulers from FCT, Ms. Olutoyin Falade, Executive Director, Innovative Strategy for Human Development (ISDH), explained that “women are amazing partners in sustaining peace and they should be involved in conflict resolutions.”
Falade who spoke on Conflict Management and Responses tasked the traditional rulers to explore the options of; “Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Confrontation, Avoiding, Accommodating and Joint Problem Solving as conflict response strategies.”
She also added that, “Traditional rulers should explore other options of conflict responses like town hall meeting, regular dialogue and community organizing.”
Corroborating Falade, Amb. Ukamaka Okolo, Executive Director, Mediation Institute, stressed that peaceful coexistence is a join efforts by all community members.
She mentioned that, “Let us join our hands together to build peace and bring women together in building peace.”
Speaking on behalf of all traditional rulers, HRH Ona of Abaji represented by Etsu Kwali, Shaba Wizozo explained that, “traditional rulers are now rethinking what should be done to enhance peaceful coexistence in our communities.”
Etsu Kwali mentioned that there is no inclusion of traditional rulers in the structure of Nigeria’s administration since independence and the need for constitutional reforms to spelt.
He also called for the inclusion of traditional rulers in strategies and interventions on conflict resolution, adding that “there should be frameworks that would guide conflict resolutions by all the relevant stakeholders in communities.”
Earlier, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who was represented by Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru, Director Human Resource, FCTA, appreciated traditional rulers for their commitments to improve peace in their communities.
He explained that the traditional rulers are more involved in all issues and challenges that people are facing, adding that it is imperative that they are equipped with the requisite knowledge on how to surmount the crises the people are faced with.
Other speakers at the capacity building are; Alahji Sani Sulaiman, Deputy Chief of Party, CIPP, Mercy Corp; Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun, Director Admin and Finance, Area Council Services Secretariat; Ms. Yawe Dorathy, Head, Women Peace and Security, Prime Center for Citizen Empowerment and Ms. Bibian Anozie, PRO ACSS.
