WOMEN, COMMUNITY PEACEBUILDING, AND STRUCTURAL EXCLUSION IN NIGERIA: PROSPECTS AND PERSISTENT BARRIERS

Abstract

Over the decades, the role of women has not been overemphasised at home or insociety. Their various engagements in restoring social order after conflict, through resilience andleadership in grassroots peace initiatives and peacebuilding, are remarkable. Nevertheless, theirefforts are often undermined by systemic barriers that limit their access to efficient governance andpeace-making mechanisms. Women are often excluded from major decision-making processes,thereby relegating their roles in peacebuilding. Patriarchy has eaten deep into the Nigerian system,which has majorly hindered the comprehensive participation of women in the peace process. Thisstudy used data from public documents and the extant literature, including journal articles andbooks, to highlight initiatives undertaken by women to advance peace in society. The study notesthat the patriarchal system, social and gender norms, are major challenges that hinder women