A landmark collaboration between a UK-funded peacebuilding initiative and Nigeria’s premier judicial training body is aiming to systematically transform how the justice system addresses gender, conflict, and security. The Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, implemented by Tetra Tech and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has deepened its partnership with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to embed Women, Peace and Security (WPS) principles into the very fabric of Nigeria’s legal processes.
The initiative, highlighted during a Capacity Strengthening Workshop in Abuja, represents a strategic shift from ad-hoc gender sensitivity training to the institutionalisation of WPS norms. Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, Team Lead of the SPRiNG Programme, framed the adoption of Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on WPS (NAP III) as a critical “timely opportunity” to make these principles operational within courtrooms and judicial policies.
“At the end of the day, access to justice is what matters,” Ukiwo stated. “Engaging with the NJI—the central hub for research, training, and development of judges and magistrates—is a starting point to ensure WPS is embedded in training curricula, policy formulation, and judicial processes themselves.” This move seeks to ensure that justice delivery, particularly in conflict-affected regions, consciously advances gender equality and protects women’s rights.
Amina Akano-Bello, SPRiNG’s Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Lead, provided concrete context for the judiciary’s role. She outlined how the judiciary is pivotal across NAP III’s core pillars: ensuring women’s participation in peace processes; providing protection from violence; enabling the prosecution of perpetrators; and upholding accountability. The workshop aimed to develop a practical roadmap for the judiciary, focusing on priority areas like protecting women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and ending impunity through timely, gender-responsive justice.
This national-level engagement complements SPRiNG’s direct WPS programming in conflict-affected states including Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau, creating a crucial link between grassroots realities and high-level judicial policy.
The discussions took on an urgent tone regarding Nigeria’s evolving security landscape. Esther Eghobamien, Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), called for robust judicial responses to modern threats. She highlighted the need for legal frameworks to criminalise ransom payments in kidnapping cases and addressed the rise of technology-facilitated crimes, such as online scams targeting women entrepreneurs.
Eghobamien also advocated for a specialised system of “speech trials”—a potential mechanism to protect witnesses and victims, especially in SGBV cases, from threats and retaliation, thereby encouraging reporting and ensuring fair proceedings. Her remarks underscored a key theme: even in the absence of perfect legislation, the judiciary can proactively shape a protective legal environment through progressive interpretations and judgments.
Representing the NJI, Ms. Adaeze Oby-Aziwe emphasised the commitment to tangible outcomes. “Our focus today is action-oriented. Beyond discussion, we aim to agree on practical steps and develop an operational action plan,” she said. This signals a move towards concrete integration of WPS into judicial training modules, continuous professional development programmes, and possibly even judicial performance benchmarks.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone. By targeting the NJI, the effort seeks to create a multiplier effect, ensuring that every judge and magistrate trained carries an understanding of WPS into their courtrooms. The ultimate goal is a justice system that not only adjudicates cases but actively becomes an instrument for building peace, enhancing security, and guaranteeing equity for women across Nigeria.
