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Peace Initiative Champions for Positive Masculinity in Africa

Published

3 years ago

October 9, 2023

The African Peace and Security Union (APSU) is on a continental drive to promote positive masculinity in African societies. The peace initiative began the campaign during the African Women Day and is set to roll the agenda across the continent.

The He for She Campaign on positive masculinity across the continent was hosted on last African Women Day.

As part of its mandate to advance the implementation of policies, programs and initiatives that promote women peace and security agenda, the initiative encourages women participation in peacekeeping and conflict prevention in Africa and for the elimination of violence against women and girls on the continent.

“We have always aimed to advocate and raise awareness for more inclusion of women into the peace process and security matters on the continent. Our campaign this year brought together high level men in government leadership and representatives from organisations active in peace and security field,” said Roll Stephane Ngomat, chairperson of the initiative.

APSU representatives in the 54 African Countries launched a series of awareness campaign and popularisation on positive media interactions aims to achieve a conflict-free Africa, Prevent Genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and Women inclusion.

The lobby also support the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through a comprehensive and sustainable collaboration with Women’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and influential women around the continent in order to reinforce the engagement of women in peace and security in Africa.

According to Roll Stephane Ngomat, the He for She campaign created a dialogue between APSU and government officials for sharing experiences, best practices, achievements, challenges and perspectives on the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 and explored ways for delivering on member states commitments in peace and security.

“Our campaign this year also meeting also assessed the gaps in the interventions of APSU and governments in the realisation of the peace agenda for women in Africa. Additionally, it reviewed the extent to which our initiative and Governments have been able to adopt and domesticate African frameworks, policies and tools towards the achievement of a peaceful continent for women and girls,” explained Ngomat.

Desiré Laurent Malibanger, stated that, the He for She Campaign also forged strong partnership between Governments and APSU on issues related to Positive Masculinity, Women Peace and Security; shared experiences on the progress of women’s participation in peace process; assessed and acknowledged the lessons learned and brought to attention good practices in women participation in peacekeeping and conflict preventions.

The event also provided a sensitization campaign on the effectiveness of the positive masculinity for engagement between APSU and Governments on promoting peace, security and stability in Africa; Advocated and lobbied for effective implementation of Gender Peace and Security Programme (GPSP) and how can APSU utilise it in the Advancement of Positive Masculinity and WPS agenda in Africa.

As part of the resolutions, The participants called for an integrated action on the political, security, development and women’s right plan in order to establish synergy of actions for the sustainable development of Africa and its most vulnerable populations especially women to systematically promote the participation and involvement of women in peace processes and more broadly political processes and involve women in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and the restoration of peace

The Campaign also raised awareness for the respect of the gender approach in all components of the peace keeping operations; support the initiative of women’s platforms working in the field of women’s protection and facilitate access to financial products (micro credit)

the Campaign called for the institutions to support the penal chain in the repression of the perpetrators of abuses against women and the strong commitments for funding the development and implementation of the national actions plans (NAP), UNSCR 1325 in particular with a view to ensure the participation of women in peace and security processes; strengthen the role of women in parliaments through training in conflict prevention and management techniques.

The Campaign finally called for the creation or strengthen of women’s watch unit and women’s organisations to contribute to early warning mechanism and develop the skills of women and young girls, including areas to which they traditionally do not have access such as Defence, Security, Governance and ensure the operationalisation of periodic reporting and monitoring mechanism of the concern institutions.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

8 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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