In a bid to promote gender inclusivity in Nigeria’s security apparatus, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, has urged for the increased recruitment of women into various security agencies. This call to action was made during her address at a three-day Strategic Sensitisation Workshop in Abuja, where she emphasised the importance of gender-responsive security operations.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Gender-Responsive Security Operation and Community Dialogue Project (Phase II)”, was a collaborative effort between the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), UN Women, and the National Defence College.
Senator Kingibe highlighted that bolstering the presence of women in security agencies would not only foster diversity but also ensure gender responsiveness within these critical institutions. She stressed the need to proactively create pathways for the professional development and leadership of women in the security forces.
Expressing her stance on the matter, Senator Kingibe asserted, “There is the need to also encourage the recruitment of more women and prepare pathway for their professional development and leadership within the security forces.” She further advocated for the broader inclusion of women across all governance spheres, asserting that Nigeria, as the giant of Africa, should adopt a comprehensive approach towards gender-related legislation to achieve greater progress.
Moreover, Senator Kingibe called for specialized training programs aimed at enhancing the awareness of security personnel regarding gender dynamics. She stressed the importance of equipping them with the requisite skills to effectively address diverse security issues in a gender-responsive manner. Emphasizing the potential impact of this approach, she added, “There is the need to train them on developing and utilizing gender-disaggregated data to understand the specific security needs of different demographics, specifically women.”
Addressing the workshop, Mr. Peter Mancha, a representative of UN Women, underscored the historical oversight of women in peace-building processes. He articulated, “We have failed to utilise the potential that women have to contribute to conflict prevention and peace building.” Mr. Mancha emphasized the necessity of integrating women into peace-building initiatives, citing their pivotal role in achieving sustainable peace.
He also stressed the critical role of legislators in ensuring the security and welfare of women, advocating for the implementation of gender-responsive laws and the oversight functions of lawmakers to facilitate this objective.
Furthermore, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General of NILDS, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to promoting gender equality through legislative frameworks. Prof. Sulaiman expressed optimism for the attainment of a more robust and gender-inclusive security sector in Nigeria as a result of the project’s efforts.
With Senator Kingibe’s impassioned call and the collaborative efforts of stakeholders, the prospect for increased female participation in Nigeria’s security agencies looks promising, heralding a more inclusive and gender-responsive security landscape.
By Victoria Ibanga
