The Gombe State Women Peace and Mediation Network (WPMN) has organized a mentorship training for young women in the State aimed at strengthening their roles in peacebuilding, leadership, and community development.
The initiative builds on the gains recorded under the United Nations Women Programme, Promoting Women’s Engagement in Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria, which was implemented in Gombe, Adamawa, and Plateau States, and later extended to Bauchi, Benue, and Kaduna States.
The mentorship training held in gombe town seeks to sustain those achievements by engaging young women to continue promoting peace and social cohesion within their communities.
During the training, participants received lectures on key topics related to peace, mentorship, and communication.
Mr. Mohammed Farouk Umar delivered a paper on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which emphasizes the inclusion and protection of women in peace processes and decision-making.
Mrs. Halima Ahmed Mahdi spoke on Mentoring and Mentorship, highlighting the importance of guiding young women to understand their roles in promoting peace and security at the grassroots level.
A presentation on Peace was delivered by Albarka Haruna, who explained the meaning of peace and its significance in fostering unity and mutual respect.
Public Speaking session was jointly handled by Sarah Yapwa and Halima Ahmed Mahdi,who trained participants on confidence and effective communication.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Director, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, who commended WPMN for sustaining women’s participation in peace and security initiatives beyond the lifespan of the UN Women project.
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It was gathered that WPMN, which is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as part of its sustainability plan, currently works with 36 community mentors drawn from the four focal LGAs.
The network collaborates closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Media Network, He4She Network, as well as traditional and religious leaders.
The programme initially focused on four Local Government Areas—Balanga, Kaltungo, Kwami, and Yamaltu-Deba—where women were trained as community mentors to support peacebuilding efforts
The organization also established peace clubs in secondary schools within the focal LGAs to nurture peace values among young people.
The network plans to expand these peace clubs and mentorship activities to other parts of Gombe State to reach more communities and empower additional women.
WPMN believes that peace begins with awareness and that empowering young women through mentorship and training is a sustainable way to build lasting harmony within communities.