Remi Tinubu Charges Nigerian Army To Encourage More Women To Join The Force ...Says There Is Need To Review Relevant Laws

 

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From left: Minister for Defence Hon Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Wife of the Vice President who represented First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Nana Shetima and the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa at the Defence Headquarters Gender Mainstreaming Conference 2023 and launch of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Defence Gender Magazine in Abuja

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON has charged the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces to encourage women to join the military.

The First Lady gave the charge in her address read by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima at the Defence Headquarters' one day Gender Mainstreaming Conference with the theme; "Building Capacity Through Gender Mainstreaming to Meet Security Challenges.

The First Lady, while commending the leadership of Nigerian Armed Forces for organising the programme, acknowledged that the event was timely.

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Sitting from left: Hon Akume wife of SGF, Mrs Oghogho Musa, DEPOWA president and wife of the chief of Defence staff, CP Abubakar, representative of the IGP, Hon Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Her Excellency Hajia Nana Shetima, wife of the Vice President and representative of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff at the One day Gender Mainstreaming Conference and launch of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Defence Gender Magazine in Abuja

These were contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the First Lady, Mrs Bisola Kukoyi, dated November 9, 2023.

"The theme is apt because it is about shaping a safer, better and more equitable world for all.

"I commend the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for accepting the gender mainstreaming concept in line with the Global Best Practice and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325," she said.

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From left AIG Abubakar, rep of the IGP, Hon Akume, Wife of the SGF, Gill Hankinson, rep of the British High Commission, Hon Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister for Defence, HE Hajia Nana Shetima, wife of the Vice President and representative of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Oghogho Musa, wife of the Chief of Defence Staff and DEPOWA President, General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff and others at the unveiling and launch of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Defence Gender Magazine in Abuja

The First Lady then said that security challenges in the nation have become increasingly complex.

"Addressing these challenges effectively requests innovative and comprehensive approaches and gender mainstreaming stands as a powerful tool in our arsenal.

"Gender mainstreaming is now much more than a charity and a policy agenda, this is a fundamental issue about the way we perceive and address security challenges," she said.

She said that it is important that security encompasses not only military strength, but also the protection of human rights, economic stability, social and environmental sustainability.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu said that it requires a collective effort to address security issues and advance gender mainstreaming.

"We can start by ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into security policies and strategies, encouraging more women to join and progress within the forces.

"We must promote women's participation and leadership in security institutions, peace negotiations, conflict resolution efforts and bringing a more reconciliatory perspective into negotiations," she said.

The First Lady said that education and training programmes should include gender sensitivity and awareness amongst security personnel. 

Tinubu further said that women should not be discriminated against for getting married or bearing children while in the military. 

She advised that more cooperation is required towards elimination of gender based violence within security forces. 

"Through the Renewed Hope Initiative project, we have strengthened women empowerment by letting women have access to training and education.

"Additionally, we have equipped the women with laptops and grants to support their educational and professional pursuits. This is because we believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a community and inevitably a nation. 

"We therefore hope that the leadership within the Armed Forces will extend this dialogue beyond the confinement of this conference and empower women and ranks and their ranks," she stated.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Baduru, applauded the First Lady and agreed to look into her recommendations.

The maiden edition of the Nigerian Defence Gender magazine which featured the First lady of the Federal republic of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON as the cover story was launched at the event.