Even though Boko Haram insurgency is affecting both genders in Yobe state, northeast Nigeria, women, particularly young women, bear a disproportionate impact. Unfortunately, prevailing patriarchal gender norms in the region lead to their exclusion from prevention/countering violent extremism (PCVE) and post-conflict recovery efforts. Women’s role in the PCVE is often limited to their roles as mothers, with arguments emphasizing their ability to detect early signs of radicalization in their family members and influence their children’s values of tolerance and acceptance. However, by restricting women’s involvement in PCVE to the private sphere (as mothers, wives, and sisters), there’s a risk of overlooking their broader capacity to prevent violent extremism.
To address this issue, Youth Initiative Against Terrorism (YIAT) has launched the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship for Young Women project with the overall goal of Empowering Yobe’s young women to challenge gender norms and foster inclusive partnerships for lasting peace and PCVE.
The Project Goals
- Equip young women in Yobe state with relevant skills, to enhance their abilities to actively participate in peacebuilding and PCVE efforts.
- Challenge patriarchal gender norms prevalent in the region through advocacy, and community engagement, to create an environment where women have equal opportunities and agency in PCVE initiatives.
- Foster partnerships with local communities, civil society organizations, and governmental bodies to create a supportive ecosystem for young women’s involvement in PCVE and peacebuilding activities, to promote inclusivity and sustainable change.
To accomplish these goals, the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship for Young Women project has provided a transformative six-month capacity-building activities for 30 young women in PCVE and peacebuilding. Through a comprehensive appraoch involving training, mentorship, community projects, and media engagement (radio programs and video documentary), the program helps to reshape gender norms, enhance community resilience against violent extremism, and foster social cohesion.
