Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has called on the military high command to resolve barriers and biases which historically limit women participation and progression in the armed forces.
On his part, the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar disclosed that Nigeria has surpassed 15 percent female participation by 2028 standing already at 22 percent.
The former head of state made the call at the Defence Headquarters annual Gender Conference 2024 with the theme ‘Mainstreaming Women Peace and Security Agenda for Enhanced Operations in the Armed Forces of Nigeria’ in Abuja.
General Abdulsalami said the military’s effectiveness and efficiency depended on the full participation of all its members regardless of gender.
His words, “We recognize that their contributions are not limited to the additional gender roles but extend to leadership positions, strategic decision-making, and operational excellence.
“Our goal is to create a military that reflects the diversity of our nations where every officer that is serving, has an equal opportunity to serve and contribute regardless of gender.
“We must work together to address the barriers and biases that have historically limited women’s participation”.
“I urge you all to embrace this vision to champion the women’s peace and security agenda and to ensure that our military is a vehicle of inclusivity and excellence”.
Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar represented by his Technical Assistant, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin (Rtd) said the conference was a testament to their collective resolve to ensure that “gender equality is not just a policy, but a living, breathing and continuously evolving reality within our defence sector”.
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He confirmed that the defence sector has historically been dominated by traditional gender roles.
Accordingvto him, gender mainstreaming in defence was not merely about fairness, but rather aimed at liberating the full spectrum of talents and perspectives of women to enhance our performance and effectiveness.
He said, “Our armed forces should be at their best when they reflect the diverse society they protect by integrating gender perspectives into our policies, operations and strategies.
“We will surely enhance our capability, foster a more inclusive environment, and better serve the needs of our assailants”.
Towards this end, he urged relevant authorities to do among other things “setting increased equipment targets for women to achieve 30% bigger representation across all the military services and to establish specialized training programs to support women in military career.
“Providing equal opportunities for women in all military occupational specialties, including combat roles, Including women in the decision-making process and strategic planning, as well as Creating mentorship programs for female personnel.
Others include “Integrating gender-sensitive models into military training and curricula, conducting specialized courses on gender-based training, conflict resolution, and civil protection, Offering continuous professional development opportunities for women’s youth enhancement and Reviewing and amending military policies for gender responsiveness and equal opportunities.
“Also, the authorities should consider Establishing units to oversee gender integration efforts” he said, adding, ‘It is heartwarming to note that Nigeria has surpassed the UN’s target of 15% female representation in peacekeeping by 2028. This is because currently we stand at 22%”.
He said, “Despite the achievements, the journey towards gender-based training is just beginning in Nigeria’s Armed Forces reiterating that, “We must remain committed to addressing the barriers and biases that exist, ensuring that our policies translate into tangible positive outcomes.
“Moving forward, we will continue to enhance our gender-based training initiatives. We should ensure that the Nigerian military sets an example of inclusivity and diversity in service to our nation”.
A Special guest at the occassion was former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan
