19/09/2025
Tunani Initiative was privileged to partner with to host a focus group discussion (FGD) on Women, Peacebuilding and Conflict-related SGBV in Minna, Niger State supported by .
We listened attentively as village chiefs and women who occupied leadership positions within the state shared experiences in peace processes as well as echoes of the realities of women whose pain in conflict and heroism during and after conflict is so often undermined.
From the FGD, it was clear that many women in the state are overburdened with sole parenting (a situation they have linked to the emergence of community conflict) which worsens in times of conflict as men in society flee from attacks and leave women behind to suffer the brunt of war. Yet still, women stitch together communities pulled apart by conflict without due recognition or a seat at formal decision-making processes, even at community levels, due to beliefs that women should only be consulted and not form part of decision-making or direct peace processes.
A participant shared that, “the impact of conflict on women has been enormous. Some women have been widowed, others lost their children, and some have been r***d and so on. The state government has ensured some form of representation of women at the top levels but at the grassroots levels, women are not carried along.”
We found that women are systematically excluded from peace processes and decision-making structures that could address insecurity, while the real work of community healing and rebuilding often happens through women’s informal efforts at the grassroots without recognition or resources.
We are grateful for 's partnership. We thank the participants of the FGD including the SA to the Governor of Niger state on Women and Affirmative Action, the State Coordinator National Human Rights Commission, Directors from Ministry of Women Affairs, State Coordinator WRAPA, Chairperson, Women Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), CEO CHANMUS Inter-religious Peace Foundation, Co-founder the Farid Centre, the State President, National Council of Women Societies, PWAN and other groups.
