Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has called on the military high command to address barriers and biases that historically limit women’s participation in the military.
This is just as the Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru disclosed that Nigeria had surpassed 15 per cent of female participation in peacekeeping in 2028, standing at 22 per cent.
The former head of state called at the Defence Headquarters annual gender conference 2024, which was held in Abuja and had the theme “mainstreaming women’s Peace and security agenda for enhanced operations in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. “
General Abdulsalami stated that the military’s effectiveness and efficiency depend on the full participation of all its members regardless of gender.
“We recognise 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 nation, where every officer serving has an equal opportunity to serve and contribute regardless of gender. We must work together to address the barriers and biases historically limiting 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,” he said.
The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, 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”.
He confirmed that traditional gender roles have historically dominated the defence sector.
He said gender mainstreaming in defence was not merely about fairness but aimed at liberating women’s talents and perspectives 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.”
He called on authorities to do, among other things, “setting increased equipment targets for women to achieve 30% bigger representation across all the military services, Establish specialised training programs to support women in an army career, Providing equal opportunities for women in all military occupational specialities, including combat roles, including women in the decision-making process and strategic planning, Creating mentorship programs for female-obsessed girls.
Others include “Integrating gender-sensitive models into military training and curricula, Conducting specialised courses on gender-based training, conflict resolution, and civil protection, h. Offering continuous professional development opportunities for women’s youth enhancement, Reviewing and amending military policies for gender responsiveness and equal opportunities, and establishing units to oversee gender integration efforts. 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%”.
Despite the achievements, he says the journey towards gender-based training is just beginning in Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
He reiterated, “We must remain committed to addressing the existing barriers and biases and ensuring that our policies translate into tangible positive outcomes.
He continued, “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”.