By Nafisat Makinde
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, emphasized the need to bridge the gap between commitment and execution in achieving gender integration in Nigeria’s security sector during her speech on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 18-19, 2025, in Abuja.
Speaking at the Fifth Annual Forum of the Women, Peace and Security Sector Reference Group held at the Auditorium of the Nigeria Customs Service, Maitama, Abuja, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim shared her experience as a public servant. She highlighted the resilience and struggles of Nigerian women in security institutions, stating, “My journey in public service…has granted me a unique perspective on the indispensable role of women in shaping national security and peacebuilding efforts.”
The minister also highlighted the challenges faced by female officers, recalling encounters with those who had given years of dedicated service yet struggled against systemic barriers in their career progression. “This stark reality continues to fuel my resolve to support efforts like this Reference Group, to break down these institutional barriers, ensure equitable representation, and drive systemic change.”
Despite progress made in mainstreaming gender across Nigeria’s security institutions, with 16 states and 22 local governments domesticating the National Action Plan (NAP) on Women Peace and Security, the minister acknowledged that more needs to be done. “Have we made progress? YES. Are we at our level of ambition? NO. Are we moving fast enough to meet our targets? Absolutely not.”
Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the need to accelerate the institutionalization of gender-sensitive security reforms, particularly in addressing the plight of women and girls who continue to bear the brunt of insecurity in Nigeria. “We are not here to merely discuss women’s participation in the security sector in conceptual terms; rather, we are here to accelerate the institutionalization of gender-sensitive security reforms.”
Nigeria has committed to international instruments reinforcing gender-sensitive security governance, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). The minister noted that policy alone is not enough, emphasizing the importance of implementation. To achieve sustainable gender integration, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed the need for institutional reforms to be systematic, data-driven, and backed by strong political will. “We must go beyond surface-level interventions. Institutional reforms must be systematic, data-driven, and backed by strong political will.”
The minister appealed to security chiefs to support the full implementation of Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. In conclusion, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed the collective responsibility in making Nigeria a beacon of inclusive security governance.
