By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Tuesday charged women in peace and security sector to bridge the gap between commitment and execution, between dialogue and measurable impact.
Speaking at the fifth annual forum of the Women, Peace and Security Sector Conference at the Nigeria Custom Service auditorium, she expresses her ambivalence:
“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.”
According to her, this this stark reality continues to fuel her resolve to support efforts like this Reference Group, to break down these institutional barriers, ensure equitable representation, and drive systemic change that integrates gender responsiveness within our security framework.
However, she noted that since the inception of the group, progress has been made in mainstreaming gender across Nigeria’s security institutions as according to her, 16 states and 22 local governments have domesticated the National Action Plan (NAP) on Women Peace and Security, with states like Adamawa, Gombe, and Plateau demonstrating the impact of inclusive security governance.
The Minister, said: “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.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, admitted that while women have made commendable progress, the reality remains that women and girls continue to bear the greater brunt of insecurity in Nigeria, whether as victims of gender-based violence, internally displaced persons, or as those facing structural barriers within our security institutions.
She pointedly said: “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.
We must address the structural and operational barriers that continue to limit women’s meaningful engagement in security governance, peace-building, and conflict resolution.
“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 acknowledged that her Ministry as the national coordinating entity for the Women Peace and Security agenda, has strengthened its engagement with security institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, and community leaders to ensure the full operationalization of the Third NAP.
However, we must recognize that policy alone is not enough — implementation is where our credibility is tested, she said.
For solutions, she added: “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).
“I appeal 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.”
