Abuja: The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has pledged to collaborate with the West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Nigeria to promote peace and prevent violence ahead of the 2027 polls. NCWS National President, Mrs. Edna Azura, made the commitment when she received Mr. Martin Igwe, Regional First Vice-President (West Africa), WAANSA, during a courtesy visit to Abuja on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Azura emphasized the shared commitment of both organizations to promoting peace, preventing armed violence, and advancing human security across Nigeria and the wider West African region. She expressed appreciation to WAANSA Nigeria for inviting her as a Guest Speaker at the 2026 International Day of Peace celebration, highlighting the crucial roles women play in peacebuilding.
Azura noted the theme, ‘Invest in Peace: Everyone, Everywhere,’ as timely, advocating for deliberate investments in dialogue, inclusion, justice, education, and human dignity to strengthen peaceful communities across Nigeria. She highlighted the significant impact of terrorism, banditry, communal violence, kidnapping, and small arms proliferation on Nigerian women, who remain vital peacebuilders nationwide.
Aligning with WAANSA’s advocacy against small arms proliferation and violence, Azura stated that NCWS would mobilize women across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to act as peace ambassadors. She emphasized the importance of sensitizing women to community vigilance, violence prevention, and conflict prevention mechanisms.
Azura called on political leaders, parties, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and other stakeholders to reject violence, hate speech, and incitement ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that elections should be a peaceful expression of the people’s will.
Earlier, Igwe shared WAANSA Nigeria’s goal of long-term collaboration with NCWS to mobilize women and communities in promoting peace and security before, during, and after elections. He highlighted WAANSA’s commitment to strengthening peacebuilding initiatives across Nigeria and the West African region.
Igwe noted WAANSA’s operations within the ECOWAS peace and security framework and collaborations with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. He also mentioned WAANSA’s participation in international engagements promoting women’s integration into peace, security, and governance processes.
He expressed concerns about the potential exploitation of ECOWAS free-movement provisions by criminal elements, affecting cross-border security and food security through the diversion of fertilisers. Igwe called for the solidarity and participation of Nigerian women, emphasizing that their involvement would bolster community awareness, peacebuilding, security, and sustainable development throughout the electoral process.