SULAIMAN-IBRAHIM CALLS FOR GREATER WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN PEACE, SECURITY AT WINSEC SUMMIT
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for greater inclusion of women in peacebuilding and national security, saying their leadership is critical to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.`
Sulaiman-Ibrahim made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the maiden Women in Security Summit and Awards (WINSEC 2026), organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
The Minister, speaking at the event attended by dignitaries from the security sector, government, diplomatic corps and civil society, described the Summit as a timely initiative that recognised the indispensable role of women in shaping security, governance and national development
“Women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of conflict. Women and children constitute about 90 per cent of those displaced by conflict, while one in three women globally experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.
Yet, evidence consistently shows that when women are meaningfully included in peace and security processes, peace agreements last longer, governance becomes more inclusive, and communities recover and thrive more effectively,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
She noted that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is implementing policies to strengthen women’s leadership and expand protection for survivors of gender-based violence.`
The Minister highlighted that the efforts are anchored on Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which provides a roadmap for advancing women’s roles in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
“The media remains a strategic pillar in achieving these goals. When women journalists do far more than report events, they shape narratives, challenge harmful stereotypes, expose injustice, counter misinformation and amplify the voices of the vulnerable.
Their role in conflict prevention, humanitarian response and national cohesion is critical to sustainable peace and security,” she said.`
“Across Nigeria, women continue to serve with distinction as military officers, police officers, intelligence personnel, journalists, humanitarian workers, community leaders and peace advocates. Yet many of these remarkable contributions often go unnoticed. WINSEC was established to change that narrative,” she added.
In her welcome address, NAWOJ National Chairperson, Hajia Aishatu Ibrahim, declared that “sustainable peace and security can only be achieved when women are recognised, empowered, and given a seat at the decision-making table.”`
The Chairperson of the NAWOJ Board of Trustees, Chief Moji Makanjuola, underscored the need for stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, the media and development partners in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, stating that women should henceforth be recognised as indispensable partners in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and national security policymaking, rather than as victims of insecurity.
Also speaking, the UN Women Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, said women bear the brunt of violent conflict, but global evidence also shows they have unique capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.`
Represented by the Programmes Specialist, Mr. Peter Mancha, she said, “We need to create space for women to take the lead. A lot of conflicts that men could not resolve, women were able to resolve, and that potential needs to be maximised.”`
The event featured the investiture of Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as NAWOJ National Patron, alongside awards presented to individuals and organisations for outstanding contributions to peacebuilding, security and women’s advancement.
