50 women trained as peace ambassadors in Kaduna communities
About 50 women chosen from Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State have been trained as peace ambassadors to strengthen peace in their communities through dialogue.
Arewa Trust Weekly reports that participants at the training, organised by the King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in collaboration with elected legislators of Chikun/Kajuru Local Government, had representatives from the Christian and Muslim faiths.
The 2-day capacitybuilding workshop trained the participants to be advocates and true agents of peaceful coexistence in their various communities.
A representative of Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Samson Bala said the two local government areas were identified based on past conflicts saying: “The conflict was ethnic and religious, which has greatly affected women. Another part of it is the segregation that is increasing by the day and we need to break that circle.”
He maintained the need for dialogue as the best option in resolving conflicts of this nature and urged the women to work together as a unit.
Similarly, the member representing Chikun/ Kajuru in the National Assembly, Hon Yakubu Barde while commending KAICIID for the workshop noted the importance of women in advancing peace in the home and society.
He traced the root cause of moral decadence, corruption and insecurity to the family unit adding that “though man is said to be the head, the woman remains the manager of the home, so if you build the woman’s capacity in terms of peace keeping, building blocks of peace, which is the essence of this seminar, you are imbibing peace in the society.”
He commended the outstanding creativity and presentation of organic butter products by one Veronica Turaki, a participant who attracted monetary donations from the elected members to build her production capacity.
Turaki, who manufactures shea butter products thanked the organisers for the training and urged women to rise up and look for what they will eat, help train their children and take care of their husbands so that their home will be in order.
One her part, Hajia Aisha Musa Zailani from Sabon Gari Nasarawa said: “I am glad the workshop discussed issues surrounding women’s rights, child abuse and the need to live in peace between Christians and Muslims.”