Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, said yesterday that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has upgraded the office of the gender adviser headed by Brigadier-General Christiana Thomas to a directorate.
Irabor said the decision was the outcome of a recent review of its structures and in accordance with the military’s gender policy on deepening gender mainstreaming.
He disclosed this while receiving a delegation of women led by the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen.
He said: “We have been able to factor the role of women in combat, training and peace enforcement. We believe that women should be supported.
“Though the military is male dominated but a significant number of women are with us.”
Irabor stated that the gender based initiatives of the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained a reference and principal focus for the commissioning and enlistment of women into the services.
He expressed the commitment of the DHQ in partnering with the Ministry of Women Affairs in co-hosting the 2021 Security Sector Gender Reference Group Conference.
Irabor acknowledged the role of women in nation building and stated that they should be seen at the forefront.
Tallen, in her remarks, hailed Irabor for launching the Armed Force of Nigeria Gender Policy (AFNGP).
She said: “We want to celebrate and thank you for the launching of the gender policies for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), which has encouraged other security and paramilitary agencies to emulate this modest achievement on gender equality,” she said.
The minister also appreciated the leadership of the AFN for supporting the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution I325, which is the national action plan on women, peace and security.
She disclosed that her ministry, in collaboration with the AFN and security agencies, was championing the course of women in peace and security in order to establish better networking within the military, police and paramilitary as well as civil society.
She also called for the admission of more women in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The minister further lauded the efforts of the DHQ Gender Advisor for bringing all the gender desk officers in the AFN and security sectors under one umbrella body.
She extolled the DHQ for championing the issue of gender based-violence in the military barracks in order to create awareness among the youths and women.
