Two Stories of Resilience and Commitment: A Kenyan Student’s Courage and Nigeria’s Gender-Inclusive Peace Agenda
In Nakuru
County, Kenya, a Grade 9 pupil named Sheila Achieng’ has become a symbol of
resilience after being forced to sit for her Kenya Junior Secondary Education
Assessment (KJSEA) exams from a hospital bed.
This extraordinary situation arose following a tragic road accident on October 2, 2025, when Sheila was being taken to school by her father, Onyango. The accident claimed Onyango’s life and left Sheila with severe injuries, including spinal damage.
Despite
her physical trauma and emotional grief, Sheila remained determined to complete
her national exams. Her aunt, Brenda Mbalilwa, recounted the harrowing ordeal
and praised Sheila’s strength and perseverance.
Confined
to a medical facility for weeks, Sheila’s story has touched many across Kenya,
highlighting the importance of educational access and support for students
facing adversity.
Meanwhile,
in Nigeria, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment to the Women,
Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda during the 25th anniversary of the United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
Minister
of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim,
emphasized Nigeria’s leadership in mainstreaming gender perspectives into
national security and peacebuilding. She described the resolution as a
transformative milestone that introduced a new language for peace, one
articulated through the leadership and courage of women.
Nigeria
was among the first African nations to domesticate the WPS Agenda by developing
a National Action Plan (NAP). Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope
Agenda, which prioritizes women, children, and vulnerable groups, the Third
National Action Plan (NAP 3) has been approved.
This plan
was developed through an inclusive process involving government bodies, the
United Nations, development partners, and civil society organizations. A
National Committee is set to be inaugurated to oversee the implementation of
NAP 3 and coordinate commemorative activities for the 25th anniversary of UNSCR
1325.
The
Minister highlighted institutional reforms that have bolstered gender inclusion
in Nigeria’s security sector. These include the establishment of Gender Desk
Offices across the Armed Forces and paramilitary services, and the elevation of
the Directorate of Gender within the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff. She
celebrated the adoption of gender policies by key security institutions such as
the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
These
reforms have led to historic appointments, including the first female Deputy
Director-General of the DSS, female Comptroller Generals of Immigration, and
female Public Relations Officers in both the Nigerian Army and Police Force.
Traditional
institutions have also begun appointing women to community leadership roles,
marking a significant cultural shift. Sixteen states and twenty-one local
government areas have developed their own Action Plans, with efforts underway
to expand grassroots implementation nationwide.
Internationally,
Nigeria has surpassed the UN benchmark for women’s participation in
peacekeeping missions, with 21.2% of deployed Nigerian peacekeepers now being
women.
The Third
National Action Plan aligns with the Nine Pillars of the Renewed Hope Social
Impact Intervention Programmes (RH-SIIP), offering a comprehensive framework
for empowerment, protection, inclusion, governance, and national stability.
Minister
Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed gratitude to partners such as UN Women, the Defence
Headquarters, the Nigeria Police, DSS, and the governments of the United
Kingdom and Norway for their continued support. She concluded with a powerful
message: “When women lead in peace, nations rise in strength, and when women
rise, they lift generations, communities, and the destiny of a nation”
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