By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Stakeholders in Plateau State have stepped up efforts to expand women’s access to justice through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
On Tuesday, the Plateau State Multi-Door Courthouse (PMDC)—with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit’s Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria prog ramme (GIZ-SEDIN)hosted an awareness workshop and mediation clinic for women.
The event marked International Women’s Day 2026 under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls.”
The gathering brought together legal practitioners, government officials, development partners and women’s groups to explore practical ways of strengthening women’s access to justice and economic participation.
Speaking at the event, PMDC chairperson Justice Nafisa Musa described the workshop as both timely and necessary, saying it moves beyond celebration to address systemic barriers affecting women.
She noted that many women and girls still face obstacles such as fear, poverty, delay, illiteracy, stigma and institutional complexity.
“Rights may exist in law, yet remain unreachable in daily life.Where justice is difficult to access, silence often becomes a burden women are forced to carry,” she stated.
Justice Musa explained that ADR offers a more accessible, less costly and faster pathway to justice, but she cautioned that it must be applied carefully.
“ADR must not become a tool for concealing injustice or compelling women into harmful compromise. It must be rights-based, gender-responsive and protective of the dignity and safety of women and girls,” she added.
PMDC Director Roseline Baraje emphasized that the initiative aimed to raise awareness of ADR services and encourage women to use them in resolving disputes.
“For many women, pursuing justice through conventional court processes can be challenging due to cost, time and complexity. That is why ADR mechanisms play a critical role in expanding access to justice,” she said.
Baraje noted that the mediation clinic provided free dispute-resolution services, particularly for family matters, business relationships, employment and property rights.
She reaffirmed the courthouse’s commitment to offering accessible, efficient and user-friendly services.
In an overview, GIZ-SEDIN Advisor on Business Enabling Environment and Investment and State Coordinator Hauwa Mankilik said the initiative seeks to leverage ADR to accelerate women’s equality and economic participation in the state.
“Commemorating IWD 2026 offers a strategic moment to move beyond awareness to practical, system-level actions that remove structural barriers limiting women’s participation in economic and social life,” she said.
Mankilik explained that unresolved disputes often lead to economic losses, business stagnation and reduced productivity among women, especially those running micro, small and medium enterprises.
“When disputes remain unresolved, they become mechanisms of economic exclusion. ADR provides a cost-effective, timely and relationship-preserving pathway to justice,” she stated.
The event featured a women-focused ADR clinic, offering confidential mediation sessions facilitated by trained, gender-sensitive professionals.Participants also shared testimonies.
Hannatu Gimba and Dorcas Ogbodo recounted how PMDC helped resolve long-standing inheritance disputes in their families quickly, restoring relationships and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Goodwill messages came from representatives of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other stakeholders, who commended the initiative and called for sustained collaboration.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the programme will raise awareness, strengthen trust in justice institutions and enhance women’s economic resilience.
They urged participants to apply the knowledge gained and use ADR mechanisms to resolve disputes effectively while safeguarding their rights and livelihoods.