By Justina Auta
The Federal Government has accredited three nationwide devices to strengthen safety for ladies and youngsters, as Nigeria grapples with solely 52 sexual assault referral centres serving greater than 200 million individuals.
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, mentioned this on Thursday in Abuja throughout a information convention marking the twenty sixth anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The occasion was themed: “From Commitment to Impact: Advancing Women, Peace and Security through Inclusive Leadership, Local Action and National Accountability in Nigeria.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim mentioned the Federal Executive Council, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accredited three nationwide devices offered by her ministry to strengthen safety, care and assist for susceptible teams.
She listed them because the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children, National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, 2026–2030, and National Care Policy and Implementation Plan, 2026–2030.
“For a child, it means abuse is prevented before it happens and, where it does happen, that someone is there to act,” the minister mentioned.
She added that the kid safety plan would lengthen interventions to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by way of a Pathfinder State Model.
On menstrual well being, the minister mentioned the coverage would guarantee women weren’t compelled to overlook college as a result of they may not afford sanitary merchandise.
“For a girl, it means she should no longer have to stay home from school because she cannot afford a sanitary pad,” she mentioned.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim mentioned the coverage would additionally assist women-owned enterprises by way of native manufacturing of sanitary merchandise and the institution of Pad Banks in public areas.
She mentioned the National Care Policy would recognise unpaid care work and promote protected, regulated childcare and aged care companies to ease the burden on ladies.
“It means her work is finally recognised, and that safe, regulated childcare and elderly care will free her time to earn, learn and lead,” she mentioned.
The minister defined that the approvals have been related to peace and safety, noting that insecurity usually started with social challenges inside communities, together with abuse and exclusion.
“Insecurity does not begin on the battlefield. It begins in the home where a child is abused, in the classroom a girl misses for want of a sanitary pad,” she mentioned.
She, nevertheless, acknowledged gaps in addressing sexual and gender-based violence, noting that Nigeria presently had 52 sexual assault referral centres serving a inhabitants of extra tha 200 million.
“Nigeria has 52 sexual assault referral centres serving over 200 million people. That is not enough, and we are working to add more,” she mentioned.
The minister mentioned the federal government was additionally strengthening the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act to handle rising threats.
She mentioned that Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, launched in December 2025, was constructed on 5 pillars.
The pillars embody prevention, safety, participation, aid and restoration, and disaster response and rising threats.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim mentioned the federal government was dedicated to making sure ladies moved past being victims of battle to changing into energetic members in peacebuilding and group growth.
She mentioned ladies have been “not merely survivors, but peacemakers and pillars that hold every home and community together.”
Earlier, Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Mr Peter Mancha, Programme Manager, mentioned Nigeria had made progress in implementing UNSCR 1325.
Eyong, nevertheless, famous that the decision was but to be absolutely realised, as ladies continued to face obstacles to participation and gender-based violence in numerous settings.
(*3*) she mentioned.
She emphasised that ladies’s participation was greater than symbolic illustration, including that their exclusion affected the problems addressed in peace agreements and battle decision processes.
“Peace is not sustainable without the full and meaningful participation of women as negotiators, mediators, signatories and witnesses,” Eyong mentioned.(NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
