- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission’s (NiDCOM) Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for more women engagement in Nigerian Armed Forces.
Dabiri-Erewa made this call while speaking at the Defence Headquarters Annual Gender Conference on Thursday in Abuja.
According to her, gender inclusivity is vital in promoting operational effectiveness in the armed forces.
She said “gender equity is key because in a gender inclusive environment, it would enable effective approach to work for both men and women especially in the armed forces.
“The theme — Mainstreaming Women, Peace, and Security Agenda for Enhanced Operational — is critical to the evolving nature of our military operations, and the broader goals of peace and security in our nation.
“I salute the enormous work done by the armed forces and their impact in upholding and supporting the female gender in the country.
“This event marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to mainstream gender in our defence and security sectors architecture”.
Meanwhile , she noted that the country and the society must recognise that conflicts and security challenges would never impact everyone in the same way.
“For example, women and girls often face specific threats, such as sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking and exploitation during conflicts.
“These issues are not merely collateral but are central to the security environment, and addressing them requires the understanding of the gender dynamics at play.
“Integrating gender perspectives enables the armed forces to adopt a more comprehensive approach to security.
“It involves assessing how military actions affect different segment of the population.
“It also ensures that interventions and mitigation efforts do not, inadvertently, harm vulnerable groups.
“For instance, in conflict zones, understanding the role of women as community leaders, peace builders or caregivers, can lead to more effective peacekeeping strategies,’’ she said.