The Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative (WOPPI) has concluded the final instalment of its Women Mediators Training Series in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, following successful training sessions in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs.
The training is aimed at strengthening women’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding, dialogue, conflict prevention, mediation and community protection.
Day One of the Bassa engagement featured practical sessions and shared learning on conflict prevention and mediation, advocacy, and the important role women can play in identifying and responding to emerging challenges within their communities.
As part of the activities, the women mediators paid an advocacy visit to the Executive Chairman of Bassa LGA, Hon. Dr. Joshua Sunday Riti, where discussions centred on collaboration, community peacebuilding and the importance of creating space for women to contribute to local peace and security efforts.
The engagement was also attended by the First Lady of Plateau State, Dr. Mrs. Miriam Joshua Kamah, who appreciated WOPPI for selecting Bassa as one of the communities for the intervention and expressed her commitment to supporting the peacebuilding efforts.
Reflecting on the strength women have demonstrated during moments of crisis, the First Lady referenced the ABBA women’s riot, highlighting the power women possess when they come together and take collective action for the good of their communities.
She noted the importance of translating the knowledge gained from the training into practical action within homes and communities, particularly through early response, dialogue, mediation and advocacy.
The Bassa training marks the third and final stop in the current Women Mediators Training Series, building on the lessons, connections and momentum generated through the earlier engagements in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi.
The women mediators will be supported to hold bimonthly meetings to provide a platform for sharing emerging concerns, strengthening coordination and identifying appropriate responses to conflicts, violence, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
They will also be supported to design and implement local initiatives that respond to the specific peacebuilding and protection needs of their respective communities.
The initiative therefore goes beyond the training room, providing women with platforms and support to remain actively engaged in early warning, conflict prevention, dialogue, mediation, advocacy and community protection.
From Bokkos, through Barkin Ladi, to Bassa, the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative has continued to build a network of women equipped to contribute to peace and security at the grassroots.
As the training series concludes, the focus now shifts from learning to action, with the women mediators expected to take the knowledge, skills and connections gained into their communities.
