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 Bwari Youth Summit on Security where the Minister of the FCT, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike was commended for boosting the security profile of Bwari and other Area Councils with motorcycles. It 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 adopt 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
The Main 2 Day Conference: Monday 2nd - Tuesday 3rd September 2024
The main Conference was held at Abacha Hall, National Defence College, Abuja. Some of the participants were:
*Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi - Convener/Pioneer Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS) FCTA
*Dr. Olusola Odumosu - 'Women & Human Security' Keynote Speaker/Commandant, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command
*Leticia Bertrand - 'Gender & Human Security: Impact of AI on women' Chair, AI Empowerment Africa
*Oscar Ekponimo - 'AI: A case for predictive self-safety tool kits for women' Founder/CEO Gallery of Code, Abuja
*Prof. Christine Ikpeme - 'Women in agriculture & food safety in the FCT' Food Safety Specialist, University of Calabar
*Dr. Ugoji Adanma Eze - 'Human security & women in a changing climate' Barrister at Law, The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, UK & CEO Renew Our Earth
*Gen. Lucky Irabor - 'The role of the Armed Forces in the security of women' Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - 'Human security & women in the FCT' Conflict Transformation Strategist/NATO's Subject Matter Expert for Gender on the Trident Jet 16 Project/Consultant to Mandate Secretary WAS-FCTA
*Dr. Gloria Shajobi-Ibikunle - Director Centre for Gender, Security Studies & Youth Advancement (CEGSSYAd), University of Abuja
*Prof. Rafatu Abdulhamid 'Overview of education challenges in the FCT' Professor of Islamic Thought & Gender Studies/Programme Coordinator, CEGSSYAd, University of Abuja
*Ms. Lois Auta 'The human security of women with disability' Founder/CEO Cedar Seed Foundation
*Dr. Olajumoke Jenyo 'The safety of women & girls in the digital space' Gender Desk Officer/HoD Conflict, Peacekeeping & Humanitarian Studies, National Defence College (NDC), Abuja
*Prof. Olayinka Falola-Anoemuah 'Health issues affecting women in the FCT' National Agency for Disease Control (NACA)
*Prof. Amina Mustapha 'Women in agriculture & their impact on food security' Deputy Director, Africa Centre for Excellence in Dry Land Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano (BUK)
*ACC Kemi Ajet 'The security of women in the FCT: Role of the NSCDC' Head Gender Desk, NSCDC
*Dr. Jimoh Yusuf 'Challenges of public transportation in the FCT' Senior Lecturer, Department of Urban & Regional Planning/Director, Migration Studies, University of Abuja
*Dr. Peter Adeyanju 'Social services in the FCT' Department of Sociology, University of Abuja
*Asabe Umar 'FCT Youth community engagement' Director, Youth Development Department, Social Development Secretariat (SDS)
*Comrade Zaka Nehemiah Danmasani President CONYSSA FCT
Some of the recommendations from the Communique issued at the end of the Conference are:
*The Conference should be a yearly affair on account of the impact of the first edition.
*There should be synergy among governmental and non-governmental bodies working on the human security of women in the FCT.
*More women-friendly policies and reforms are needed for economic empowerment.
*Support systems for victims of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) need to be stepped up.
*The mode of travelling for men and women differ, with the latter being more vulnerable. The safety of women should be factored into every mode of transportation, especially the Blue Rail in Abuja.
*The boy child should also be factored in when considering the security of the girl child.
*The Land Use Act needs to be reviewed in the light of the needs of women, vis-a-vis agricultural output and property ownership.
*Human security is a whole spectrum beyond physical safety - It includes health, education, social services, reforms/legal matters food/agriculture, etc.
*Capacity building for women should be a continuous process.
*Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology should be democratised for the economic, social and political advancement of women.
*The Mandate Secretary (MS) Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS) FCTA's Social Services Delivery Model (SSDM) needs further interrogation in order to harness its benefits for the populace in the FCT and beyond.
A high point of the two-day Conference was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS) and the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The aim of the MoU is to promote the safety and security of women in the FCT. It also addresses collaboration between the two institutions for the elimination of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) while enhancing women's participation in community-based programmes...
Programme for the 2 Day (main) Conference
Programme for the Pre-Conference Discourse
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