First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on the Armed Forces leadership to actively encourage and facilitate the participation of women in top military roles.
Speaking at a one-day Gender Mainstreaming Conference which held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja with the theme: “Building Capacity Through Gender Mainstreaming to Meet Security Challenges,” Tinubu, represented by Hajia Nana Shettim, the Vice President’s wife, said she deemed the event as timely in the face of the nation’s escalating security challenges.
She then emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming as a powerful too in addressing complex security issues, asserting that it goes beyond mere policy and charity.
Senator Tinubu highlighted the multifaceted nature of security, encompassing not only military strength but also the protection of human rights, economic stability, social and environmental sustainability.
She stressed the need for collective efforts to integrate gender perspective into security policies and strategies.
The First Lady urged the promotion of women’s participation and leadership in security institutions, peace negotiations, and conflict resolution efforts, emphasizing the importance of incorporating gender sensitivity and awareness into education and training programmes for security personnel.
She also advocated against discrimination based on marriage or motherhood for women in serving the military as she drew attention to the Renewed Hope Initiative and noted she believes that empowering women extends to empowering communities, and consequently, the nation as a whole.
She then urged the leadership within the Armed Forces to extend dialogue beyond the conference, but to actively empower women in their ranks.
In response, both the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Baduru, lauded Senator Tinubu’s advocacy and expressed their commitment to implementing her recommendations.
The event also marked the launch of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Defence Gender Magazine featuring the First Lady on its cover.
