By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The National Women’s Platform on Security Sector Reform and Governance (NWP-SSR/G) has advocated for greater inclusion of women in leadership position of Nigeria’s security sector.
The platform emphasised that achieving gender balance in security institutions is criticall to ensuring an accountable, responsive, and inclusive security sector.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja at the weekend to mark International Women’s Day 2025, the National Focal Person of NWP-SSR/G, platform, under the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Dr Plangsat Dayil, harped on the need to close the gender gap in security sector leadership.
She emphasised on the women’s critical role in peace-building, conflict resolution, and security governance but lamented their continued exclusion from decision-making processes.
She reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to advocating for gender-inclusive security policies, strengthening partnerships at sub-regional and international levels, and ensuring women’s voices are central to security reforms in Nigeria.
“Women bring unique perspectives and solutions to security challenges, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership roles. To achieve sustainable peace and security, we must ensure their full and equal participation in decision-making processes,” Dr. Dayil stated.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), a German foundation committed to promoting democracy, social justice, and gender equality, has been implementing the “Security for All” project since 2019, supported by the European Union Delegation in Dakar.
This initiative led to the establishment of a Regional Women’s Platform on Security Sector and Governance and the Civil-Military Relations Group.
The project aims to enhance women’s roles in security sector reform and promote inclusivity practices in Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, and Senegal, while also engaging sub-regional bodies such as ECCAS, ECOWAS, and international organizations like the AU and UN.
It would be recalled that in a quest by the group towards promoting gender equality and enhancing security sector reform and governance in Nigeria, recently launched a National Women Platform on Security Sector Reform and Governance.
According to Dr Dayil, the event was graced by the presence of the German Ambassador to Nigeria and the Executive Director of the Centre for Gender and Environmental Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN), who serves as the National Coordinator for this groundbreaking initiative.
“Nigeria, like many nations, has long grappled with issues related to security sector reform and governance. These challenges encompass a broad spectrum of issues, including accountability, transparency, human rights, and the effective integration of gender perspectives into security policies and practices. Recognizing the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to addressing these issues, the National Women Platform on Security Sector Reform and Governance was established”, he said
