Northern women and other relevant stakeholders are set to storm Kaduna for historic unity conference which will be a groundbreaking conference aimed at uniting women groups across Northern Nigeria and fostering collaboration with non-indigenous women organisations residing in the region.
The event which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025 at the Arewa House will be hosted by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and facilitated by the minister of state for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata.
This historic gathering seeks to advance social cohesion, economic development, and peace-building efforts, leveraging the unique influence of women as nurturers and custodians of societal values.
The conference organised under the aegis of the Arewa Women Forum, is a bold initiative to bridge cultural, tribal, and religious divides across Northern Nigeria. From Sokoto to Jalingo, Ilorin to Maiduguri, the North’s diverse landscape makes the task of fostering unity both challenging and imperative.
Additionally, the event aims to create a platform for “female hand-shakes across the Niger,” encouraging collaboration between northern women and women from other ethnic nationalities, particularly those from Southern Nigeria who live and work in the North. By fostering dialogue and cooperation, organisers believe this initiative will promote national prosperity and peace.
Speaking on the importance of the gathering, Dr. Maryam Suleiman, a prominent women rights advocate from Kano State, emphasized, “This conference is a significant milestone. It not only aims to unify women within the North but also strengthens our ties with our sisters from other regions. When women are united, families thrive, communities prosper, and the nation moves forward.”
Another leading voice, Hajia Zainab Buba from Borno State, underscored the economic potential of the initiative. “Women are the backbone of society.
By bringing us together to share ideas and strategies, we can unlock economic opportunities and create an environment conducive to peace and progress.
This conference is a platform to amplify our collective impact,” she said.
Similarly, Aisha Garba Ibrahim from Niger State highlighted the role of women in conflict resolution and peace-building.
“As mothers, we understand the cost of division and the value of peace. This conference offers us a chance to strengthen our role in building bridges across cultures and faiths for a united Nigeria,” she noted.
The conference’s secondary objective is to integrate women from Southern Nigeria into the dialogue, fostering inclusivity and mutual understanding.
Mrs. Ifeoma Okonkwo, a leader of the Igbo Women’s Socio-Cultural Association in Kaduna, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. “This is an unprecedented opportunity to build bridges between women of different ethnicities. When women come together, we address common challenges and develop solutions that benefit not just our communities but the nation as a whole,” she remarked.
The event’s facilitator, Minister Ata, is passionately committed to the success of the initiative, describing it as a “project with far-reaching economic and social ramifications.”
According to him, “The unity of women is central to the unity of the nation. Women have the power to influence the home, the community, and the larger society. That is why this conference is not just a gathering but a movement to harness that power for the good of Nigeria.”
He also stressed the importance of bridging the gender gap in house ownership between the male and female in Nigeria and that the conference will arm Nigerian women with the necessary capacity tools to access housing loan facilities so that they can as well benefit from the budding housing revolution in the country under his ministry.
He further stressed the importance of having a keynote speaker of high national standing, revealing that discussions are underway to invite the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Dr.) Mujidat Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to deliver the keynote address.
Her leadership and influence are seen as pivotal in galvanizing women towards achieving the conference’s objectives besides the fact that her selflessness and countless support for the weak, vulnerable and the less privileged people across the country makes her a formidable force to encourage women at such an event.
The conference is expected to address critical topics, including women’s roles in supporting the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Organisers see the event as an opportunity to build momentum for President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 by rallying women around his administration’s policies and reform agenda.
Preparations for the conference are in advanced stages, with resources being mobilized to ensure its success. The organisers aim to create a lasting impact by promoting unity among women, fostering dialogue across cultural divides, and laying the groundwork for sustained peace and development.
As Hajia Amina Bello, a member of the planning committee, aptly put it, “This is more than a conference; it is a call to action. It is a call for women to rise above divisions and lead the charge for a better Nigeria. The outcome of this gathering will be a stronger, more unified Nigerian woman, ready to drive the nation’s progress.”