By Joy Omagha Idam
The Nigerian Army has pledged stronger collaboration and support for the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), signalling a renewed commitment to deepening engagement between the military and women journalists across the country.
The assurance was given when the NAWOJ National Chairperson, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, led the association’s national leadership on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Army.
Receiving the delegation, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, commended NAWOJ for its initiatives and described the association’s recent acquisition of land for the construction of its National Secretariat Complex as a significant milestone.
The development, he noted, was particularly commendable given that NAWOJ achieved the feat after 38 years of existence.
During the visit, Ibrahim presented the outcome of the maiden Women in Security, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Summit and Awards (WINSEC), an initiative aimed at promoting greater participation of women in national conversations on security, peace building and conflict resolution.
The NAWOJ National Chairperson disclosed that the association intends to make WINSEC an annual programme and solicited the Nigerian Army’s partnership in future editions.
She specifically sought the collaboration of the Army’s Directorate of Civil-Military Affairs in providing specialised training for women journalists in areas including security reporting, countering misinformation and disinformation, civil-military relations and peace building.
“WINSEC is here to stay,” Ibrahim declared, stressing that NAWOJ is interested in establishing a strategic and sustainable partnership with the Nigerian Army, particularly through the Civil-Military Affairs Directorate.
She also appealed to the Army to support the association’s plans to construct its National Secretariat Complex, describing the acquisition of the land as a historic achievement for NAWOJ and an important step towards securing a permanent home for the association.
In his response, Major General Etsu-Ndagi expressed delight over NAWOJ’s progress and assured the delegation of the Nigerian Army’s willingness to collaborate with and support the association.
He acknowledged the important role of women journalists in shaping public understanding of national security issues and fostering constructive engagement between security agencies and the public.
The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen interaction between the Nigerian Army and women journalists while promoting professional and responsible security reporting, countering misinformation and enhancing public understanding of military operations.
For NAWOJ, the engagement represents another significant step towards building sustainable partnerships with Nigeria’s security establishment, while positioning WINSEC and the proposed National Secretariat Complex as enduring platforms for advancing the role of women journalists in security, peace building and national development.
Weekenders Media