WIC: Communiqué On State-Level Round Table Discussion In Kaduna

 Introduction.

Women’s Interfaith Council, an association and network of Women peace makers in Kaduna state and Nigeria organized a Round Table under the theme ‘If You Want Peace, Work for Justice, Promote Human Rights, Mutual Respect, and Freedom of Religion or Belief’. The Round Table brought together diverse stakeholders in the peace architecture in Kaduna state-

 Kaduna Peace Commission, Students from Ansarrudeen College, Rimi College, Our Lady of Fatima, Government Girls’ Secondary School Kabala Costain, Tarbiyya Secondary School, Federal Government College, Government Girls’ Secondary School Doka, and Kaduna State University (KASU), Commissioner of Police, academia, Ministry of Justice, Religious and Traditional leaders under the auspices of the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) and other civil society actors. All these stakeholders made presentations on their contributions to peace and challenges associated with such investments. JISRA delegates from the communities of Hayin Banki and Kurmin Marshi also shared their experience at peace building through inter religious dialogue in their communities aimed at expanding the space for women’s meaningful participation in decision-making, especially in preventing and resolving conflicts, promoting Freedom of Religion and Peace (FoRB), combating violent extremism, and building post-conflict peace and stability. 

Stake holders debated and made fruitful exchanges which resulted in the following recommendations and resolutions for Peace in Kaduna state and Nigeria:

 Recommendations:

Dialogues, Interfaith Interactions, and Reconciliations: 

1-The imperative of inclusive and constructive dialogues among community-level stakeholders led by traditional and religious leaders, women, and youth groups is to bring all faiths and ethnic groups together in meaningful discussions to address grievances and find common ground. This paves the way for proper understanding and mutual articulation of differences and respect, sincere reconciliations and the healing of deep-seated wounds in communities across the state. Based on this, we recommend the replication of diverse strategies like Interfaith Unity Parades and collective farming activities as successful relevant dialogue tools for faith and ethnic unity as shared by JISRA actors in Mashi community. Inequalities and inclusion of women in decision-making processes Capacity-building  and awareness creations are relevant strategies in improving women’s participation and inclusion in decision making as shared by JISRA actors and affirmed by different participants in their diverse discussions. Given the quantum of success recorded within the Kurmin Marshi community with the inclusion of women in the traditional Council, we recommend continuous awareness creation and capacity building especially among religious and traditional leaders to promote women and youth inclusion and participation in decision making.

2- Inter-Religious Peer Review and Religious Literacy: Religion has often been manipulated to perpetration violence. This often negates the positive use of religion by religious leaders- Priest, Pastors, Imams, for non-violence, conflict transformation, defense of human rights, reconciliation of divided communities and for integrity in government. David Smock, 2008 affirms this thus ‘Religious leaders and institutions can be mediators in conflict situations, serve as a communication link between opposing sides, and provide training in peacemaking.’We recommend that Kaduna Peace Commission should together with WIC sustain their excellent work of engaging religious leaders and adherents in religious peace education designed to expose religious leaders and adherent to their faith and that of others. Strategies like inter-religious exchange visits, football competitions among others can be employed.

 3- Peace, Security, and Youth Entrepreneurship: Fruitful deliberations during the Round Table further affirmed that meaningful engagement of youth in entrepreneurship education and enabling them to gain appropriate innovative and technological skills have resulted in constructive engagement among the youth and enhanced their independence and employability. We recommend the creation and sustenance of market tailored skill acquisition programs and Centers by institutions, government, NGOs, religious institutions, and the private sector. Furthermore, government can provide the needed infrastructure by providing land and reducing the stress in the registration of such facilities.

4-  Proper upbringing of children: Participants in their diverse input during discussions affirmed that a significant proportion of gender based violence stems from cultural, religious and family imbalance in the upbringing of children which privileges the boy child over the girl child. To reduce these noticeable gaps, the following recommendations were made:Platforms like JISRA be created to enable religious and traditional leaders to work together to review harmful practices that skew training an upbringing of children in favour boys. Participants resolved to be ambassadors of balanced parental upbringing in our families as well as interface with diverse actors to diminish the negative influence of unbalanced child upbringing especially on girls. 

WIC also resolved to sustain her work with schools and PTAs as well as religious and traditional actors to develop a justice for the girl programme and motivate other actors to invest as well as monitor the delivery of curricular in schools and other public spaces.WIC further resolves to deepen her work with religious, traditional actors and other stake holders to diminish bad indoctrination of youth towards hatred of one another.

5- Education is a right for all and should be geared towards national integration and respect for freedom of religion and belief. Beyond the focus of acquiring education in terms of literacy, education also prepares one to learn to live together which is one of UNESCO’s four pillars of education. This entails creating a learning environment that respects our diversity in terms of beliefs and culture. A significant framework for managing our diversity has already been put in place through the tertiary education admission policy which considers 36 states and the FCT.  This is to encourage national integration of all cultures, ethnicities, and religions. The sense of national integration is also applied to the general study course (GST), especially for Nigerian Peoples and Culture, which is usually handled at the faculty level. Inter-religious dialogue and conflict resolution curricula are being designed and thought out in tertiary institutions. To reinforce this excellent learning environment we recommend that the Kaduna state ministry of education should work with KASU to ensure the age old tradition of allocating places of worship within Tertiary institutions to Protestant, Catholics and Muslims chaplaincies as against what is obtainable at the moment.

We resolve to support the Ministry of Education and KASU in ensuring that needed infrastructure in terms of content and structures to promote and respect our diversity are provided for and sustained.   This will communicate a sense of inclusivity in the running of the academic institution.

 6- Human Rights Awareness and Prosecution of Offenders: Protecting human rights is challenged with the burden of proof, reflected in a lack of exposure and the ability or willingness to voice out human rights violations without intimidation. People can complain on social media but are not willing to come out to stand up for their rights when called upon. People often invoke the religious principle of forgiveness in the face of human rights violations, which often emboldens perpetrators. When crimes are not punished, it will be difficult to have a safe society. In the light of this, participants resolved to engage in sustained public sensitization on human rights as strategies to boost citizens’ confidence in getting justice.

1- Social Media Vices and Mass Media Responsibilities: Social media has the capacity to transcend its current misuse to propagate fake news, hate speeches, and violent extremism into a platform to promote constructive dialogue, sustainable peace and awareness of human rights. We resolve to engage social media actors through education of what benefits could accrue to the society and themselves if it is used positively.

2-  Socioeconomic Development: With adequate commitment and gains from sustainable peace achieved by various collective actions, better focus will be on the much-needed socioeconomic development initiatives that will improve the lives of the people. Investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic opportunities is much needed at this time.

3-  International Assistance: We are grateful to the funding partners of the JISRA project in Kaduna and Plateau State, Nigeria, for their encouragement and assistance during this journey. Their assistance in capacity-building, lobbying and advocacy has been invaluable.

It is critical to remember that, while we have made considerable progress, the path to long-term peace is never-ending.

 To guarantee that the accomplishments we have gained are retained and developed upon, we must remain committed to the concepts of dialogue, tolerance, and partnerships.

To conclude, we express our profound gratitude to all parties who participated in the round table discussions, as well as the well-meaning citizens of Kaduna State who have experienced stress due to various insecurities and violent conflict and now have the opportunity to work together to build a peaceful and successful future. Let us move on together, guided by the ideals of peace and reconciliation, to build a brighter future for ourselves and future generations. 

 Sign:

Rev. Sr. Veronica Onyeanisi, OLA

WIC Executive Director

Mrs Elizabeth M. Abuk, WIC General Coordinator,   

Sarki Ahmed Mohammed, Village head Kurmi mashi

Rev. Fr. Bulus Karis Lukas  Religious Leader, 

Hajia Khadijah Hawaja Gambo, permanent commissioner Kaduna state peace commission

Ikhianasimhe Nwaogo Augusta,Admin. DAAR Kaduna.

Rahma Abdullazeez Student of Ansarrudeen College, Kaduna