CIMICO, UN Women convene summit to advertise gender agenda for peace, safety

The Centre for Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO Centre), in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Tuesday, in Abuja convened the 2026 Annual Civil-Military Conference on the UN House, beneath the theme “Gender Agenda for Peace and Security.”

The convention introduced collectively high-level representatives of presidency, the Armed Forces, safety and legislation enforcement companies, improvement companions, civil society organisations and gender advocacy teams to advance sensible measures for strengthening girls’s management, gender-responsive safety governance and inclusive approaches to peacebuilding.

The convention featured a strategic handle by Her Excellency Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and a keynote handle by Dr Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi, Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, representing the Minister of Women Affairs.

In his opening handle, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, by way of his consultant, invited the organizers to speak to him, coverage commitments on peace and safety agenda that require authorities motion, signaling an avenue for advancing the implementation of the convention’s suggestions.

In his welcome handle, Dr Adams Otakwu, Coordinator of CIMICO Centre, emphasised that girls have to be recognised not merely as beneficiaries of peace and safety, however as strategic actors and companions in reaching them.

He urged individuals to establish clear priorities, institutional obligations and measurable actions able to advancing the ladies, peace and safety agenda.

The convention strengthened the significance of sustained collaboration amongst authorities, defence and safety establishments, girls’s organisations, civil society and improvement companions to strengthen gender-responsive safety governance, promote inclusive peacebuilding and advance a sensible, accountable gender agenda for peace and safety in Nigeria.

Goodwill messages have been delivered by representatives of the Commandant of the National Defence College, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff, and civil society companions.

The opening session additionally featured the general public presentation of CIMICO’s Handbook, “Citizens’ Guide to Combating Insecurity,” and the presentation of commendation plaques to HE Beatrice Eyong on behalf of UN Women, and Prof. Muhammad Auwal Sule on behalf of Makieze International in recognition of their contributions to peace and safety and assist for CIMICO.

Commemorating the twenty sixth anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), the convention centered on translating longstanding commitments into sensible priorities for 2027 and past.

A presentation by UN Women, titled “The 26th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325: The Journey of the WPS Agenda in Nigeria and the Way Forward,” supplied a basis for deliberations on progress, persistent challenges and the necessity for stronger implementation.

Two concurrent technical labs examined complementary dimensions of the agenda: “Institutional Transformation, Women’s Leadership and Gender-Responsive Security Governance,” chaired by Dr Hajiaya Nafisah Shehu Mohammed.

The Nigerian Army offered the group’s outcomes; and “Community Security, Conflict Prevention, Protection and Peacebuilding,” chaired by Dr Felicia Itodo of the National Defence College, with the NDC presenting its group’s outcomes.

The classes explored methods to strengthen girls’s participation in safety decision-making, enhance institutional responsiveness to gender concerns, and reinforce community-level battle prevention and peacebuilding.

The technical labs submitted their findings to the convention technical workforce for consolidation right into a complete communiqué and resolutions to be transmitted to collaborating establishments and stakeholders.