By Oyeyemi Abolade
The Peace Ambassador Advocacy Network (PAAN), in partnership with the United Nations and the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), has inaugurated 500 young women as Girls and Women Speak Ambassadors and Grassroots Peace Builders in the formal ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The event marked a significant step toward strengthening women’s voices in governance, peacebuilding, and national development, as these young women were empowered to take on leadership roles in their communities.
In his keynote address, the President of PAAN , Amb. Onuche Kingsley described the inauguration as “a movement, not a moment,” stressing the urgency of amplifying female leadership across all sectors.
“These 500 ambassadors represent a new Nigeria—one where no girl is silenced, no woman is left behind, and no dream is dismissed because of gender,” he said.
He challenged the ambassadors to go beyond symbolism and embrace their responsibilities as community leaders.
“You are not tokens. You are solutions. The mentors our girls look up to. The changemakers our communities need.”
UN Women Calls for Inclusion in Peace Processes
Representing the UN Women Country Representative, H.E. Beatrice Eyong, Mr. Zephaniah Aura—Programme Specialist for Governance and Participation in Public Life—delivered a keynote address that drew attention to the low participation of women in peace processes, both globally and nationally.
“The data is clear. In over 50 peace processes reviewed in 2023, women made up just 0.6% of negotiators and 13.7% of mediators,” Aura said. “Empowering women is not symbolic—it is strategic for sustainable peace.”
He referenced Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, highlighting the Women Mediators Network supported by UN Women, which has trained over 5,000 women across conflict-affected states, including Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, and Plateau.
“These women are resolving local disputes, mentoring girls, and participating in traditional councils. The work is happening—we need to scale it.”
Panelists Urge Courage, Financial Independence, and Solidarity
During the panel discussion, speakers shared their experiences and encouraged the newly appointed ambassadors to step into leadership with clarity and resilience.
A successful cassava entrepreneur, Hon. Halima Danbatta, addressed the persistent questioning of women’s value in leadership.
“People should stop asking what women bring to the table. We already have what we want to bring. Just give us the table,” she said.
Danbatta, who previously contested for the governorship in her state, spoke candidly about her experience of electoral loss.
“I didn’t win, but I didn’t stop. You must be willing to keep showing up, even when the system tells you not to.”
She also emphasized the importance of financial empowerment for women, citing her work in the cassava industry as a model of self-reliance.
Ambassador Datari Ladejo, legal advocate and digital development strategist, urged the ambassadors not to wait for permission to lead.
“We cannot wait for systems to shift before acting. We must build our own ecosystems of inclusion, from the ground up, with vision and relentless service,” she said.
Ladejo is the founder of Digital Women Africa and The Rebuilding Lives Mission, two nonprofit initiatives focused on digital inclusion and vocational empowerment.
“Digital inclusion is not a luxury. It is a right. And leadership is not about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, serving, and building something that outlives you.”
Also speaking on the panel, Oluwakemi Omeiza Usman Esq., Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kogi State, encouraged women to support each other.
“When one woman rises, she must be willing to lift others. That is how we build power that lasts.”
A National Commitment to Representation
The event, attended by government officials, civil society leaders, and UN representatives, emphasized the role of young women in shaping Nigeria’s future. The 500 ambassadors are expected to work within their communities to promote peace, leadership, and women’s inclusion across various sectors.
In closing, the PAAN President reminded attendees that the inauguration was not an achievement, but a starting point.
“This is not the end. This is where the real work begins. These women are the voice of Nigeria’s future, and that future starts today.”
