Clerics task Nigerians, lawmakers on rights, justice, good governance
Religious, traditional and international leaders have called for the urgent inclusion of women in security planning and peace-building processes nationwide. 
 
They described women’s participation as critical to ending insecurity, especially in the Northwest region.
 
The stakeholders made the call at the Northwest Regional Conference on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), organised by the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, in collaboration with Global Rights and supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Integrated Security Fund.
 
The conference brought together traditional rulers, clerics, security agencies, government officials and civil society organisations from Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano states to review progress made under community-based peace-building projects, and to chart a sustainable path forward.
 
Delivering a keynote address, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, said Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity without confronting the structural and cultural barriers that silence women and the poor.
 
He argued that while constitutions and religious texts provide frameworks for justice, the real challenge lies in interpretation and implementation.
 
The cleric warned that religion and culture have historically been manipulated to justify injustice, including slavery and discrimination, but noted that they also contain the “seeds of redemption” capable of driving freedom and equality.
 
Drawing lessons from civil rights struggles in the United States and post-conflict reconciliation efforts in Rwanda, Kukah said meaningful change requires courage, persistence and grassroots participation, especially by women.
 
According to him, women already bear the moral and social burden of holding families and communities together and excluding them from peace and security decisions weakens the entire system.
 
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, on his part, reaffirmed the commitment of traditional institutions to peace-building and gender justice.
 
Represented by Senior Counsellor of the Sultanate Council and District Head of Kilgori, Dr Mohammed Jabi Kilgori, the Sultan described traditional rulers as frontline actors in conflict prevention, noting that most security and welfare challenges manifest first at the community level.
 
British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever Obe, said evidence from the UK-supported programmes in the Northwest shows that communities become safer and more resilient when women and marginalised groups are meaningfully included in peace and justice processes.
 

She noted that, through the partnership with Partners West Africa Nigeria and Global Rights, gender-based community dialogue committees were established, with up to 40 per cent participation by women. 
 
According to her, strengthened community safety partnerships, improved police-community relations, and expanded legal support mechanisms have enhanced access to justice and restored trust in affected communities.
 
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director of Partners West Africa Nigeria, Kemi Okenyodo, said the conference was not merely the end of a project cycle, but a platform for reflection, evidence-sharing and policy dialogue.
 
She explained that the organisation implemented the project titled “Strengthening Inclusive Peacebuilding Structures and Improved Access to Justice in Northwest Nigeria” in Katsina and Kebbi states, while Global Rights carried out complementary interventions in Sokoto and Kano states.
 
Okenyodo explained that community safety dialogue committees and community safety partnerships were strengthened to promote inclusive participation, improve access to justice and build trust between citizens and institutions.
 
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-Central), Abiodun Essiet, emphasised the importance of bottom-up approaches in tackling insecurity.
 
She stressed the need for culturally sensitive approaches to prevent gender-based violence and support community resilience.

Also at the gathering, Kukah urged Nigerians to take responsibility for confronting injustice by understanding and claiming the rights already available to them.
 
He noted that the persistent injustice and inequality in the country were not necessarily due to the absence of opportunities or constitutional provisions, but rather to the fact that many citizens lack the awareness and capacity to access them.

The cleric pointed out that religion has historically been used both as a tool of oppression and a source of liberation, emphasising that Nigerians should not wait for permission from religious, political or traditional leaders to pursue justice and opportunity.
 
This is even as the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale
Oke, seized the occasion of the dedication of a Christian chapel within the National Assembly complex to challenge legislators to reflect deeply on their responsibilities and ensure that their faith translates into just and people-oriented governance.

Speaking with newsmen after the ceremony in Abuja, Oke described the chapel as a historic addition to Nigeria’s parliamentary democracy — the first of its kind within the legislative complex.

According to him, the establishment of a sacred space for prayer and spiritual reflection within the seat of lawmaking carries profound significance for a nation widely acknowledged as deeply religious.

He commended the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives for supporting the project, noting that the decision to create a chapel demonstrates recognition of the importance of spiritual guidance in public service. 

The PFN boss also applauded the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her substantial contribution to the successful completion of the chapel, offering prayers for President Bola Tinubu and the nation at large.