By Katsina Times

The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, alongside gender advocates and governance experts, has called for greater inclusion of women in governance and national security decision-making to strengthen Nigeria’s development and response to insecurity.

The stakeholders made the call on Friday at the 2026 Inclusion and National Security Conference organised by the ITeach Africa Initiative and Empower Her for Governance Initiative in Abuja.

Represented by the Ministry’s Gender Adviser, Lt.-Col. Nneka Olimma, the Defence Minister said women had important roles to play in addressing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent extremism, cybercrime and other security challenges confronting the country.

He said women should not be viewed only as victims of insecurity but also as partners capable of contributing to solutions.

“Women are not only affected by insecurity, women are also part of the solution,” Musa said.

He urged women to intervene before conflicts escalate, engage with communities before grievances turn violent and help prevent vulnerable people from being recruited or exploited by criminal and extremist groups.

The minister also called for increased representation of women in security-related decision-making, arguing that their exclusion could limit the range of ideas available in developing strategies to address insecurity.

He, however, urged women seeking leadership positions to demonstrate competence, discipline and professionalism.

Women’s participation can strengthen governance

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Nkiruka Jones-Nebo, said greater participation of women in governance could contribute to national growth and development.

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She called for stronger mentorship programmes, leadership training and safe spaces that would enable more women to advance into leadership positions.

Walson-Jack said institutions should move beyond celebrating a few successful women and establish structures that would provide opportunities for more women to rise through the ranks and lead organisations.

The Convener and Director-General of the ITeach Africa Initiative and Empower Her for Governance Initiative, Mrs Alaibe-Elezieanya Ebimoboere, expressed concern over the impact of insecurity on communities, particularly women and other vulnerable groups.

She identified kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, violent attacks and organised crime as major challenges affecting communities across the country.

Ebimoboere stressed the importance of including women in national security decision-making, saying their participation could strengthen early-warning and conflict-prevention mechanisms.

“A nation is safest when its people feel they have a stake in its peace, become a voice in its future and play a role to ensure its survival,” she said.

The conference also featured a lecture on leadership, stability and the future of inclusive governance in Nigeria by governance expert and founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CentreLSD), Dr Otive Igbuzor.

Another lecture, titled “Inclusion as Security: The Niger Delta Model and its Imperative for Empowering Nigerian Women,” was delivered by Mr Ndutimi Alaibe.