GENDER & HUMAN SECURITY: FOCUS ON WOMEN IN THE FCT

The title of this post is the subject matter of a three tier discourse which would climax in September 2024. What do I mean by the 'three tier discourse'? The parley started with focus group discussions (FGDs) with the youth, women and other stakeholders in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria May 2024 - AMAC, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. I am the Consultant to the Mandate Secretary (MS), Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS), FCT on Women, Peace & Security (WPS). The MS is Hon. Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi. 

The FGDs elicited the perspective of the Women Area Council Development Officers (WACDOs) about the security of women beyond perimeter fencing - human security (HS), which entails health, education, social services, legal framework, agriculture & food security, transport, etc. The discussions on the youth platform embraced other stakeholders on human security. On the 16th of May 2024, a day before my 66th birthday, I presented a paper on behalf of the MS at the Bwari Area Council as part of WAS's engagemnet with the youth and other critical stakeolders, titled: 'Empowering women as catalysts for community resilience: Safeguarding Abuja against kidnapping incidents'. The paper was well received. The Permanent Secretary (PS), Alhaji Rabiu Adetoyi Kolawole led our team to the event. The Coordinator of the events for the Youth Summit is Comrade Zaka Nehemiah Danmasani. Zaka was also a discussant at the '2nd tier Discourse' organised byWAS/University of Abuja on the 24th of June 2024. 

It was at the Bwaru Youth Summit on Security that the Minister of the Minister of the FCT, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike was commended for boosting the security profile of Bwari and other Area Councils with motorcycles. I was also mentioned that Kigarko forest, at the boundary between Kargo Local Government (Kaduna state) and Bwari Area Council was a veritable insecurity hot spot! The wife of the District Head of Kawu, Alhaji Danjuma Dankawu, was kidnapped. As at the time of the Youth Summit, his wife was still held captive by the kidnappers. In spite of his predicament, Alhaji Dankawu was present at the Summit. It was also stated that Kuje, Bwari and Abaji were and are still the most vulnerable Area Councils.

Major takeaways from the Youth Summit are:

*Structural reforms are needed in the FCT in order to curb the level of insecurity.

*Urban poverty is a major cause of insecurity.

*There is an urgent need for Community Policing.

*There should be sustainable FCT surveillance.

*Upgraded infrastructure is unrgently needed (The feeder roads are vital)

*The FCT should adopy the Kebbi state approach: Death penalty for kidnappers' informants.

*There should be greater synergy via cooperation among the Area Councils of the FCT.

 

L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (Consultant to MS WAS on WPS) whispering into the ear of MS WAS, FCTA, Hon. Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi @ the Pre-Conference Discourse held on the 24th of June, 2024. Venue: National Assembly Library, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. Photo taken during the '2nd tier' of consultation

The second leg of the discourse was the one-day Pre-Conference Discourse held in collaboration with the Centre for Gender Security Studies & Youth Advancement (CeGSSYAd), University of Abuja on the 24th of June @ the National Assembly Library, Abuja. Coincidentally, the 24th of June 2004 was also Alhaji Adetoyi Kolawole's 100th day in office as the Pioneer Permanent Secretary (PPS) WAS. We wish him a successful tenure. Some of the participants are:

*Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi - Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, Abuja

*Alhaji Rabiu Adetoyi Kolawole - Permanent Secretary, WAS FCTA

*Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na'Allah - Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja

*Dr. Adamu Gwary - Director, Department of Security Services, FCT

*Rtd. Gen. Lucky Irabor - Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

*Queen Hauwa Yunusa - Wife of the Ona of Abaji & Rep. of Wives of Traditional Leaders in the FCT

*Mrs. Toun Okewale-Sonaiya - CEO Women Radio

*Dr. Joseph Ochogwu (Rep. by Ms. Grace Awodu) - DG Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR)

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Consultant on WPS to MS WAS/NATO's Subject Matter Expert on Gender

*Prof. Hauwa'u Evelyn Yusuf - Keynote Speaker/Professor of Criminology & Gender Studies, Kaduna State University

*Dr. Gloria Shajobi-Ibikunle - Associate Professor/Director, CeGSSYAd, University of Abuja

*Ms. Lois Auta - Disability Advocate/ED Cedar Seed Foundation

*Dr. Jumoke Jenyo - Gender Desk Officer/HoD Conflict, Peacekeeping & Humanitarian Studies, Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defence College (NDC), Abuja

*Dr. Olayinka Falola-Anoemuah - National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)

*Prof. Amina Mustapha - Deputy Director, Africa Centre for Excellence in Dry Land Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano (BUK)

*ACC Kemi Ajet - NSCDC

*Dr. Jimoh Yussuf - Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning/Director, Migration Studies, University of Abuja

*Prof. Rafatu Abdulhamid - Professor of Islamic Thought & Gender Studies Programme Coordinator, CeGSSYAd, University of Abuja

*Dr. Peter Adeyanju - Dept. of Sociology, University of Abuja

*Mandate Secretaries for Health, Education, Agriculture & Social Development were represented.

*Leticia Bertrand - Chairperson AI for Africa Empowerment Foundation/AI Leadership Strategist & Coach

Extreme Left: Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na'Allah - VC Uniabuja (He was honoured @ the event for his firm stance against SGBV); Middle: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa; In Red: Mrs. Toun Okewale-Sonaiya - CEO Women Radio. The '2nd tier' of consultation

                             Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the event: The '2nd tier' of consultation

L-R: Plain-clothed Police Officer from Force HQ giving some info to Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa. During the 2nd tier of consultation

Group photo @ the event: Middle Three L-R: Dr. Adamu Gwary (In light blue attire: Director, Dept. of State Security Servuces, FCT); Hon. Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi (MS WAS, FCTA); Alhaji Adetoyi Kolawole (PS WAS, FCTA). The '2nd tier' of consultation

A robust panel discussion was held with Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi as anchor. Various solutions were postulated in the following areas: Eduction, Health, Agriculrure & Food Security, Transport, Social Services, etc. In my presentation, I said that there is a triangle of criminality in the FCT viz; *The vulnerable victim (mostly women, children & PWDs); *A predator enabled by *A conducive environment for crime to thrive. Then I asked the rhetorical question: How do we paralyse the third leg of the equation in order to ensure that the environment no longer enables the activities of criminals: kidnappers, bandits, terrorists, abductors, farmer-herder conflicts, etc? I hope I get a viable answer at our main Conference coming up in September 2024.

Meanwhile, the Secretariats of the FCTA were given the task of elucidating Road Maps for comprehensive human security from the particular lens of their Mandate. To be sure, such Road Maps are to be presented at the main Conference slated for September. This would be the third and final leg of the discourse. We specially thank Dr. Adamu Gwary (Director, Department of Security Services, FCT), for being at the Pre-Conference Discourse throughout in spite of his very busy schedule. His valuable conributions immensely enriched the discourse. All hands are on deck to ensure that the much anticipated conference is not just a talk shop, but a platform from which viable solutions are provided for sustainable human security in the FCT...

L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Dr. Gloria Shajobi-Ibikunle (Associate Professor/Director CeGSSYAd, University of Abuja). The '2nd tier' of consultation

                                     The flier for the Discourse for the '2nd tier' of consultation

Pre-Discourse preparatory meeting with some Women Community Development Officers from the Area Councils (AMAC, Bwari & Kwali) & Collaborating institution, University of Abuja. Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa is @ the head of the table. Part of '1st tier' of consultation

Preparatory meeting for the Pre-Conference Discourse with Uniabuja & Women Community Development Officers (WCDOs). This was part of the 'first tier' of consultation.

                       Nigeria TV Authority's report on the Discourse. The '2nd tier' of consultation

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa speaking @ the Pre-Discourse Preparatory meeting. Part of the '1st tier' of consultation

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, speaking @ the youth engagement in Bwari Area Council on the 16th of May 2024. She presented the paper: 'Empowering women as catalysts for community resilience: Safeguarding Abuja against kidnapping incidents'. This was part of the 'first tier' engagement for the conference on 'Gender & human security: Focus on women in the FCT'.

In Bwari Area Council on the 16th of May 2024 @ the '1st tier' consultation with the youth & other stakeholders. Photo L-R: Alhaji Rabiu Adetoyi Kolawole, Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido (Former Chairman Bwari Area Council) & a traditional leader

 

  

BARRIERS TO WOMEN's FREEDOM OF SPEECH & PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

The above title was the subject matter of a research project executed by Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Women for Women International (WfWI). The disemination of the research findings was at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja on the 7th of May 2024. There were a number of 'Change Agents' from Plateau state in the room. They had earlier undergone training for their role.

L-R: Mrs. Bukola Onyinsi, Country Director Women for Women International (WfWI) & Dr. Dayo Kusa

Some of the participants are:

*Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi - Founding ED WARDC

*Mrs. Bukola Onyinsi - Country Director WfWI

*Hon. Miriam Onuoha - House of Representatives Chairperson on TETFUND

*Hon. (Dr) Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi - PMS, WAS FCT

*Hon. Abiodun Essiet - SSA to the President on Community Engagemant (North Central)

*Representative of the Clerk of the House of Reps Committee on Women Affairs

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Consultant to PMS, WAS FCT

Dr. Dayo Kusa with one of the young Change Agents from Plateau State in a mother-daughter pose

Research Findings:

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi disseminated the research findings. The research was completed in six months last year. The survey was on women's participation in democracy in Nigeria. The quest was to find out the impediments to active participation of women with Plateau state as a case study. Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly states the right to association and assembly by citizens. But the language used in the Constitution is problematic: not gender friendly. For example: 'He shall become the Governor', 'Chairman', etc.

250 persons from 3 Senatorial districts constituted the sample. There were 10 focal group discussions (FGDs). Women from Jos, Plateau state are a unique demographic - industrious and resilient. Plateau state passed the Gender & Equal Opportunity Bill into law over six years ago. Mr. Peter, a prominent official in an international NGO facilitated the proceess of fast tracking the passage of the Bill into Law. Note that Plateau state is a civil service state. The state also has few natural resorces.

The research is a call to action thus:

*Women should collaborate more with he for shes who are willing to advance their cause. This worked in Plateau state.

*We should never lose sight of UNSCR 1325. Involve more women in peace processes in peace/war/conflict time.

*Cultural norms are barriers to the advancement of women, but we should hasten to 'abolish' them cautiously. Confrontation does not always achieve the desired results. Lobbying and other more subtle routes could help like in Plateau state.

*Institutional constraints are also worrisome. This is not surprising because we are still in a patrirchal society. We need to strategise more to bring women into politics. She who wears the shoes knows where it pinches.

*Negative masculinity needs to be isolated and addressed. More of positive masculinity, please.

*We must always remember that women are not a homogeneous group. We should take this into consideration in our research.

*Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is on the rise and it should be given urgent attention...

*We should identify the areas of intervention if we wish to change negative norms in our society.

*For future research, Women With Disability (WWD) should constitute a veritable sample for investigation...

We await the distribution of the hard copies of the text of the reseaarch report. The soft copies have landed in our emails. Kudos to WARDC and WfWI...

                                           Dr. Dayo Kusa chilling @ the end of the meeting...

 

THE ABUJA ACCELERATOR: COHORT 1

On the 1st of May 2024, The Abuja Accelerator Cohort 1 was endorsed by UN Women at the Babatunde Osotimehin Hall, UN House, Abuja. This was the second leg of a process which began on the 19th of March 2024 at the same venue. The March event was a hybrid one, where 35 members of the Cohort, chosen on account of a rigorous proceess, converged at UN House Abuja to view the Side Event put together by the Pioneer Mandate Secretary (PMS) of the Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja - Hon. (Dr) Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi. The number of Cohort members increased to 40 when 5 Women With Disability (WWD) were added to the list. The Side Event took place in New York on the sidelines of the Convention on the Status of Women (CSW 68) which was held between the 11th and 22nd of March 2024. It was the very first showing of the brand new WAS FCT at CSW!

What exactly is the Abuja Accelerator: Cohort 1? Put simply, it symbolises a set of females in their twenties and thirties who were selected for a ten-month intensive mentoring programme which would prepare them for their role as accelerators of the 'race' towards gender equity and eventually gender equality in Nigeria and beyond. The idea is to set up a formidable Faculty of tried and tested individuals, mostly females, who have excelled in their chosen fields...

L-R: Dr. Dayo Kusa, A member of Abuja Accelerator - Cohort 1 & Ms. Inimfon Etuk (Anchor)

Some of the participants are:

*40 members of The Abuja Accelerator - Cohort 1

*Ms. Beatrice Eyong - Country Representative, UN Women Nigeria & ECOWAS

*Hon. (Dr) Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi - Pioneer Mandate Secretary (PMS), WAS FCT

*Amb. (Dr) Maureen Tamuno - MD, Abuja Investment Company Ltd.

*Dr. Hansatu Adegbite - ED, WimBiz

*Dr. Naomi Osemedua - Two-time Ted-X Speaker & Cohort 1 Coordinator

*HRH Queen Hauwa Kalu Adamu Ibrahim - Wife of the Paramount Ruler (Ona) of Abaji, a.k.a. Queen of Abuja

*Ms. Tokunbo Chiedu - ED, Compact Global Business Services

*Dr. Jumoke Oduwole - Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC

*Edidiong Idang - Social Development Specialist, ASR Africa & Founder, Initiative for Peace & Women's Rights in Africa

*Dr. Dayo Kusa - Consultant on Women, Peace & Security to PMS, WAS FCT

*Ada Amadi - Company Secretary, Abuja Investment Company Ltd

*Rotimi Olawale - Consultant

*Ms. Inimfon Etuk - Anchor

Most of the mentees listed above rendered motivational speeches at the event. An MoU was signed betweem WAS FCT and UN Women. Huray, The Abuja Accelerator: Cohort 1 was born. I'm convinced that in another one year, we will have well groomed members of the Cohort who have acquired skills beyond our imagination and ready to take up the task of 'accelerating the race towards geder equality...'

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa speaking @ the podium - Babatude Osotimehin Hall (UN House), Abuja