Imo unveils plan to improve women welfare, security
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- Imo State has launched its Women, Peace and Security State Action Plan, becoming the first state in the South-East to adopt such a framework.
- The plan, a policy framework rather than a bill, aims to foster peace within families and communities by recognizing the critical role women play.
- Implementation will involve various stakeholders, including government institutions, security agencies, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations, building on years of consultations.
Imo State has officially validated its Women, Peace and Security State Action Plan, positioning itself as the first state in the South-East region to adopt this critical framework. This initiative aligns Imo with other states across Nigeria committed to enhancing women's roles in peacebuilding and security efforts.
The Action Plan is a policy framework and not a bill requiring passage by the Imo State House of Assembly.
Nkechinyere Ugwu, Imo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, clarified that the Action Plan is a policy framework, not a bill requiring legislative passage by the Imo State House of Assembly. She emphasized that while the ministry collaborated closely with the legislature during its drafting, the immediate priority is its implementation. Ugwu stressed the belief that lasting peace originates within the home and acknowledged the indispensable role women play in cultivating peaceful families and communities.
She stressed that lasting peace begins in the home and acknowledged the critical role women play in fostering peaceful families and communities.
The government highlighted that ongoing inclusion policies, support for persons with disabilities, and the extension of the retirement age in the state civil service are all part of its broader welfare plans for women. These measures underscore the administration's commitment to women's well-being and integration into various aspects of state development.
The Action Plan is the outcome of years of consultations, technical reviews and stakeholder engagements that began in 2024.
Blessing Duru, Programme Director at Alliances for Africa, detailed that the plan is the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders throughout Imo State, beginning in 2024. Implementation will be managed by a reporting committee and a monitoring and implementation committee, working in partnership with government bodies, security agencies, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations. Duru explained that the document localizes Nigeria's commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, while specifically addressing Imo State's unique peace and security challenges through five strategic pillars: participation, protection, prevention, relief, and recovery.
The document localises Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, while addressing Imo State’s unique peace and security challenges.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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