The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (PLASGEOC), in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on Monday, 29th September 2025, held a strategic engagement with the wives of Local Government Chairmen from the 17 LGAs of the state. The meeting, held at Enayi Hotel and Suites, Jos, focused on sensitizing participants about the proposed bill on women and children’s inheritance rights in Plateau State.

In her presentation, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Acting Chairperson of PLASGEOC, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, emphasized the Commission’s mandate of protecting, promoting, and defending the rights of Plateau citizens, particularly women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

“Engaging the wives of local government chairmen is strategic because many of the children trafficked out of Plateau come from our communities. By working together, we can raise awareness, support victims, and change the narrative for women and children in the state,” she said.

Dazyam further noted that cultural practices that favor only male inheritance must be addressed. “Women can own and acquire land, and widows and orphans should benefit from property left by their husbands or fathers. A home-grown legislation that reflects our realities in Plateau will empower women, strengthen families, and transform communities. Once you empower a woman, you empower the whole society,” she added.

Presenting findings from the NRC, Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Technical Assistant, Kumbo Divine Dung, revealed that widows and divorced women remain among the most vulnerable, often excluded from inheritance despite existing protections. She stressed that law reform, awareness, and inclusive dispute resolution were necessary steps to safeguard women’s rights to housing, land, and property.

In her paper presentation titled “Securing Our Future: The Urgent Need for a Progressive Women and Children Inheritance Law in Plateau State,” NRC Consultant, Barr. Obioma Ngozi Achilefu, clarified that the bill was not designed to erase cultural values but to correct harmful practices.

“The proposed Women and Children Inheritance Bill is not an attack on our culture, but a call to refine our practices so they truly protect the vulnerable in our society. When widows are stripped of their homes, poverty deepens, children drop out of school, and whole communities suffer. This law is about fairness, justice, and safeguarding the future of Plateau’s families,” she said.

Addressing the wives directly, Achilefu urged them to use their influence to support the bill: “Your support can transform this bill from a document into reality. By standing up for widows and orphans, you can help us leave a legacy of justice and compassion that secures the future of Plateau State.”

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Ambassador Mrs. Mercy Dung Silas, wife of the Executive Chairman of Jos South LGA, commended the initiative. “Issues of inheritance and women’s rights affect every family, and addressing them is long overdue. In our local governments, we have already begun sensitizing women on the importance of writing wills to prevent disputes. This dialogue is a step toward overcoming these challenges,” she noted.

She further encouraged women to take practical steps. “I want to call on women to engage their husbands on writing wills and securing property rights, while also guiding young girls toward empowerment and shared values in marriage. As chairmen’s wives, we are committed to working with the Gen Z generation to build stronger families,” she added.

Also speaking, Mrs. Deborah Sati Shuwa, First Lady of Riyom LGA, highlighted the relevance of the discussion to challenges in her community. “In Riyom, we face serious issues with child trafficking and rape. I am personally handling about five active cases, and the awareness created by the Gender Commission is already making a difference,” she said.

She appealed to mothers to prioritize child protection. “Too often, children are exploited in different ways, and some parents even give them out carelessly. Mothers must learn to protect their children and ensure their safety,” she stressed.