Pulse.ng : Kaduna Women Challenged to Lead Community Development Beyond Politics

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

Women in Kaduna State have been urged to prioritise community development and civic responsibility rather than focusing solely on partisan political activities.

The charge was made on November 20th 2025, at a two-day capacity-building workshop for women coalitions on governance and advocacy, organised by Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative under the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative (WECRI).

An advocacy and policy expert, Abel Adejor, stressed the importance of strategic messaging in effective advocacy.

He noted that framing messages and using storytelling techniques can significantly shape negotiation outcomes and strengthen the impact of advocacy work.

“Framing presents information from a particular angle to guide how it is interpreted. It allows advocates to set the agenda and shape the narrative by highlighting key elements while minimising others,” Adejor said.

Also speaking, a governance facilitator, Mr. Laurence Obeweh, explained that storytelling enhances rational arguments by making them relatable and persuasive.

He said storytelling evokes empathy and increases the chances of convincing stakeholders.

“By mastering storytelling, negotiators can create stronger arguments, build deeper connections and achieve more meaningful outcomes,” he said.

The facilitators further underscored the need for objective stakeholder mapping, urging participants to identify key players and influencers through Political Economic Analysis to enhance the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts.

Reinforcing the central theme of the workshop, Obeweh reminded women that their foremost responsibility lies in serving their communities.

“As women, you preserve culture and mobilise communities—not through partisanship but through civic education,” he said.

He encouraged them to act as communication bridges between government and citizens and to help uphold values across generations.

Participants expressed delight with the knowledge gained and pledged to apply the lessons in their communities.

Mrs. Christiana Achi said the session enlightened her on environmental risks.

“I learned that living around flood-prone areas is dangerous, so I will take this message back to my community and educate people on how to prevent flooding in the coming season,” she said.

Another participant, Boni Grace Iheanacho, said the training broadened her understanding of her role in driving change.

“Today I learned that I can transform my society without waiting for the government. I now understand practical ways to address flooding in Narayi community,” she said.

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to equip women with the skills needed to strengthen grassroots development and enhance community resilience across Kaduna State.

The Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative (WECRI) is implemented by Bridge That Gap Initiative under the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), funded by the UK International Development.