Women Peacebuilding Efforts and Prospects for Inter-Religious Harmony in Nigeria the Case of Dadin Kowa and GGSS Soba, in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This paper responds to the following questions; what has been the contribution of women to promote peace in Northern Nigeria? What has made this contribution possible? What obstacles hinder women from realising their full potential in peacebuilding? What strategies need to be undertaken to ensure that women's full participation in peacebuilding and reconciliation is effective and sustainable? Through interviews and observations, this paper found that at the grassroots level, women's various initiatives have helped in rebuilding trust among families and reconciling former enemies. A case in point is the role that women in Dadin Kowa in Jos South LGA of Plateau State and girls of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) in Soba LGA of Kaduna State Nigeria played in maintaining peace in the protracted conflict in Northern Nigeria. However, the paper demonstrated that women's contribution to peacebuilding is still hampered by constraints such as abject poverty, gender-based violence and, limited motivation and facilitation of women initiatives. Therefore, the paper recommends that women in leadership positions such as cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, private sector operators, civil society leaders, researchers and others should be encouraged and facilitated to work together in different fora and forge close working relationships with rural women in the areas of promoting peace and reconciliation through different initiatives.