By Nkechi Eze
The Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged women in the peace and security sector to translate their commitments into tangible actions and measurable outcomes.
She made this call during the fifth annual Women, Peace and Security Sector Conference held at the Nigeria Custom Service auditorium, emphasizing the need for effective implementation and meaningful impact.
“Let me be clear…have we made progress? YES. Are we at our level of ambition? NO
“Are we moving fast enough to meet our targets? Absolutely not. My charge to all of us this morning is simple: we must bridge the gap between commitment and execution, between dialogue and measurable impact.
“I stand before you today, not only as the Minister of Women Affairs but as a public servant who has witnessed firsthand the resilience, sacrifices, and struggles of Nigerian women, particularly those serving in our security institutions.
“My journey in public service, from leading two critical agencies focused on human trafficking migration, refugees, and to serving as the Minister of State for Police Affairs, has granted me a unique perspective on the indispensable role of women in shaping national security and peace building efforts.
“I recall several encounters with young female officers who had given years of dedicated service yet struggled against systemic barriers that hindered their career progression.
“Their stories are not an isolated one. Across our security architecture, women continue to be under-represented in strategic decision-making roles, despite their demonstrated competence and contributions to safeguarding our nation.” She said.
The Minister noted that she remains committed to breaking down institutional barriers and driving systemic change to ensure gender responsiveness in Nigeria’s security framework.
Despite the challenges, she noted that progress has been made since the inception of the Reference Group. Notably, 16 states and 22 local governments have adopted the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, with Adamawa, Gombe, and Plateau states showcasing the positive impact of inclusive security governance.
“Women’s representation in security leadership has also advanced, marked by historic milestones such as the graduation of Nigeria’s first female cadet from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the appointment of three successive female Comptroller Generals in the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the appointment of the first Force Secretary in the Nigeria Police Force.
“Additionally, gender-sensitive recruitment and career advancement have gained momentum, with the first female Pilots emerging from the Nigerian Navy and Customs.”
Although women have achieved notable milestones, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim acknowledged that they, along with girls, who remain disproportionately affected by insecurity in Nigeria. This includes being victims of gender-based violence, internally displaced persons, or facing systemic obstacles within the security institutions.
“Today’s engagement therefore demands a renewed sense of urgency.
“We are not here to merely discuss women’s participation in the security sector in conceptual terms; rather, we are here to accelerate the institutionalization of gender-sensitive security reforms that translate into measurable outcomes.
Structural and operational barriers that continue to limit women’s meaningful engagement in security governance, peace-building, and conflict resolution must be addressed.
“What excites me also, is that the progress we make here will not only impact women in uniform but will ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s overall security and stability.
“Nigeria remains a signatory to multiple international instruments that reinforce the need for gender-sensitive security governance.
“The domestication of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) through Nigeria’s First National Action Plan (NAP) in 2013 was a bold step in mainstreaming gender in national security frameworks. Since then, we have progressively expanded our policy architecture to include the Second NAP (2017-2020) and now the Third National Action Plan (2024-2028), which provides a comprehensive roadmap for integrating gender into security sector governance, peace-building, and post-conflict reconstruction.”
She emphasized that while her Ministry has intensified collaboration with key stakeholders to implement the Third National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security, having policies in place is only half the battle. The true test of their commitment lies in effective implementation, which is crucial for building credibility.
“To achieve sustainable gender integration in the security sector, we must go beyond surface-level interventions. Institutional reforms must be systematic, data-driven, and backed by strong political will. This means that we must make deliberate effort in five key areas;
“We must embed gender policies into security sector planning, budgeting, and operational procedures. Gender-responsive budgeting must become a core requirement in security financing, ensuring that gender-specific security needs are not treated as an afterthought.
“Secondly, we must Increase women’s representation in security decision-making processes. While we have seen commendable progress – such as the appointment of women into key leadership roles in the military, police, and paramilitary services – women remain vastly underrepresented in senior command positions and operational roles.
“The objective is not just to increase numbers but to ensure that women’s leadership is substantive and transformative.
“Thirdly, we must strengthen gender-sensitive recruitment and promotion pathways. Women in security institutions must be given the same opportunities for leadership advancement, technical training, and strategic deployment as their male counterparts. The deliberate inclusion of female cadets in elite military academies, such as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMA), UK, is a step in the right direction, but it must be replicated at scale across all security institutions.
“We must ensuring that gender accountability mechanisms are embedded in security governance. This includes institutionalizing gender audits, strengthening internal reporting mechanisms for gender-based discrimination, and enforcing zero-tolerance policies for sexual harassment and abuse within security institutions.
“Finally, we must enhance security frameworks for the protection of women and girls: Security institutions must prioritize gender-sensitive approaches in addressing conflict, insurgency, and violent extremism.
“This includes strengthening community policing structures, deploying gender desks across commands, and expanding survivor-centered interventions for gender-based violence (GBV).
She therefore appealed to all Security Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of paramilitary institutions to lead from the front in supporting the full implementation of Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security.
