By Salami Abdulrahaman | Abuja
The Women Community in Africa (WCA) has urged women and young people to move beyond advocacy and become active participants in governance, peacebuilding and security, saying their inclusion is critical to building safer and more resilient communities.
The call was made at the WCA Town Hall Meeting 2026 held at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja, with the theme, “From Voice to Power: Mobilising Women, Youth and Institutions for Safer Communities.”
The town hall brought together government officials, security stakeholders, civil society organisations, community leaders, and youth representatives to deliberate on ways to strengthen inclusive security and community development.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, the Personal Assistant to the Director-General, Mr Olaniran Olusola, commended WCA for creating a platform for dialogue on the role of women and youth in peace and security.
Olusola said the theme of the event highlighted the need to move from discussions to concrete actions capable of addressing insecurity and strengthening social cohesion.
He described women and young people as critical actors in peacebuilding, noting that women contribute as community builders, mediators, and caregivers, while young people bring innovation, energy, and new ideas to societal development.
He, however, said their contributions would have greater impact if they were given meaningful opportunities to participate in governance and decision-making.
According to him, challenges including insecurity, gender-based violence, social exclusion, and limited civic participation require coordinated efforts involving government institutions, civil society, the private sector, and communities.
He urged participants to ensure that the resolutions reached at the town hall result in practical commitments and measurable actions beyond the event.
Defence Ministry Reaffirms Commitment
Representing the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), Lt. Col. Nneka Olimma, Gender Adviser to the Minister, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to an inclusive and community-driven security architecture.
She said security should not be regarded as the responsibility of the military alone but as a collective responsibility requiring the active cooperation of government institutions, civil society organisations, and local communities.
According to her, women play important roles in early warning, peacebuilding, and post-conflict recovery, while meaningful youth engagement is essential to preventing insecurity and advancing national development.
Olimma highlighted efforts by the Ministry of Defence to increase women’s participation in leadership and operational roles within the Armed Forces, strengthen responses to gender-based violence, expand youth engagement platforms, and improve inter-agency collaboration
She also referenced the establishment of the Ministry’s Gender Unit as part of efforts to institutionalise gender-responsive policies and support the implementation of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
She assured participants of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to protecting lives and property while promoting inclusive participation in security governance.
WCA: Women Must Take Their Place
The Global President of Women Community in Africa, Dr Maimonna Salim, said WCA has continued to expand its activities since its establishment in 2016 and the commencement of active operations in 2018.
She said the organisation has focused on breaking barriers, addressing social and health challenges, and empowering women to take active roles in leadership, governance, and politics.
Dr Salim stressed that women must be represented at decision-making levels and encouraged women to support one another in pursuing leadership opportunities.
“You can not create change without being part of the process,” she said.
She explained that participation in governance goes beyond holding political office, noting that mothers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders also play significant roles in transforming society.
According to her, meaningful change often begins within families and communities before extending to the wider society.
The WCA President disclosed that the organisation currently has a presence in several Nigerian states and some African countries, with plans to expand its activities across all African Union member states.
Stakeholders Call for Action
Participants agreed that lasting peace, security, and development in Africa require deliberate efforts to position women and young people as key stakeholders in governance and community affairs.
They called for stronger partnerships between government institutions, civil society organisations, and communities to transform dialogue into measurable actions capable of creating safer, more inclusive, and resilient communities.
