The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu says women’s inclusion in peacekeeping is crucial for lasting peace and security, yet their exclusion remains a major barrier to achieving sustainable stability.
Speaking at the Fifth Annual Forum of the Women, Peace, and Security Sector Reference Group in Abuja, Olotu stressed that women, who are often the most affected by crises, bring unique perspectives, skills, and experiences that can enhance peacebuilding efforts.
Presenting a Keynote Paper on “Rethinking masculinity for effective gender-responsive peacebuilding and inclusive security institutions”, he noted that masculinity is shaped by norms, societal or cultural barriers and lack of representation.
The Commandant said that women were more affected by crisis and other security challenges, as such their inclusion in peacekeeping efforts would enable them contribute their unique perspectives, skills, and experiences in the process.
He said; “Gender-responsive peacebuilding acknowledges that conflicts affects both the men and women differently and sustainable peace cannot be achieved without addressing these disparities.”
Olotu urged security leaders, policymakers, and advocates to take responsibility for challenging outdated, harmful norms and building inclusive institutions that uphold values, respect, and dignity, ensuring women’s participation in decision-making processes free from violence, aggression, and dominance.
While acknowledging progress in gender mainstreaming within Nigeria’s security sector, Olotu noted “an increase in female representation in leadership. He also highlighted gender-sensitive recruitment policies.”
Despite these advancements, he stressed “the need for further action to eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination.
“Five of the nine newly promoted staff in the College are women,” he said. “This shows that inclusivity is improving. Over time, I believe exclusion will become a thing of the past.”
Olotu emphasised the importance of fostering positive masculine norms. He called for a shift towards empathy, compassion, and cooperation to address power imbalances between men and women.
Speaking on the role of the media, the National Vice President, Zone D, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), called for better access to information.
She urged security agencies to provide timely updates to amplify issues related to Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).
A panel discussion followed, featuring community-based WPS structures. Participants included the HeForShe network, Women Mediators, Community Safety Platforms, Mixed Observer Teams, and the Media.
Panelists shared their experiences in promoting peace and security in Nigeria. They called for increased advocacy, intentional collaboration, and targeted training initiatives.
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