The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender-responsive policing by strengthening media collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure greater visibility for policewomen and sustained coverage of gender reform initiatives.
The commitment was made recently during the Nigeria Policewomen Conference (NPWC) 2026, held in Abuja with the theme, “Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Policing for Inclusive Security and Sustainable Reform.”
Delivering the goodwill message of the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, the Council’s Auditor, Comrade Rosemary Ukoko-Tega, said the media had historically been excluded from discussions and planning on gender mainstreaming within the Nigeria Police Force, stressing that such exclusion must come to an end.
She noted that gender-responsive policing and a free, responsible press are complementary pillars of transparency, accountability and public confidence.
According to her, with more than 2,000 journalists operating within the Federal Capital Territory, media attention can rapidly drive institutional action by highlighting policies that are neglected or inadequately implemented.
Rather than fostering adversarial relationships, she urged the Nigeria Police Force to designate dedicated liaison officers to facilitate regular communication with the NUJ FCT Council. She also encouraged policewomen to proactively share their activities, achievements and success stories for wider dissemination across the Council’s media platforms.
“These positions align with the NUJ FCT Council’s long-standing advocacy for transparency, institutional accountability and media inclusion in matters of public reform,” she said.
The Council observed that although policewomen continue to make significant contributions, including increased representation in leadership positions across various commands, many of these achievements receive little public attention due to inadequate structured engagement with the media.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Director of Force Medical Services, AIG Nkechi Eze, said the reactivation of the Nigeria Policewomen Conference reflects the Force’s recognition that effective modern policing requires the active participation of women at every level of leadership and decision-making.
The Inspector-General acknowledged the outstanding contributions of women officers in investigations, forensic services, tactical operations, peacekeeping missions and international assignments. He, however, identified mentorship gaps, limited leadership opportunities and inadequate welfare support as challenges that continue to hinder the advancement of female officers.
He urged participants to move beyond discussions by developing practical recommendations aimed at strengthening leadership development, expanding mentorship opportunities and advancing inclusive policing policies. He also called on senior female officers to intentionally mentor younger colleagues to ensure sustainable leadership succession within the Force.
The Inspector-General commended development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of Germany, GS-Foundation and UN Women, for their continued support towards police reform and women’s leadership initiatives. He particularly acknowledged the German Embassy’s donor support and GS-Foundation’s contributions to sustaining the programme.
The NUJ FCT Council reiterated its readiness to partner with the Nigeria Police Force in institutionalising regular media access to gender reform activities, expressing confidence that closer collaboration between journalists and police leadership would strengthen public trust while showcasing the invaluable contributions of policewomen to national security.
The Nigeria Policewomen Conference 2026 was organised by the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, GS-Foundation and UN Women.
The conference, held at the United Nations House, Abuja, brought together senior police officers, government officials, development partners and civil society organisations to advance strategies for institutionalising women’s leadership within the Nigeria Police Force.
