Grace Ijeoma Umeh, Abuja
Stakeholders in the media and security sector yesterday convened online to inaugurate a planning committee for the Women in Security Summit 2026 and Women in Security Awards, in what has been described as a strategic intervention to place women at the center of Nigeria’s security conversation.
The virtual meeting, which drew key players from the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, signaled the formal take-off of preparations for the landmark summit slated for June 2026.
Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, National Chairperson of NAWOJ, set the tone in her address, describing the initiative as “not just another event on our calendar,” but “a strategic intervention that seeks to place women firmly within the security conversation—where decisions are made, where policies are shaped, and where the future of our nation is defined.”
Comrade Ibrahim stressed that NAWOJ is not a mere observer but a “driver of change” in the security space.
“Security is not just about borders and weapons; it is about people, communities, and the lived realities of women whose voices must be heard and respected,” she said.
She added that the WINSEC Summit presents an opportunity “to spotlight competence, to celebrate excellence, and to redefine the narrative around women in security.”
Warning that “the success of this maiden edition will not be determined by intention, but by execution,” the NAWOJ Chairperson called for clarity, urgency, and shared responsibility from the newly formed committee.
“I urge us all to be deliberate, to be focused, and to be solution-driven,” she declared, before formally moving for the adoption of the agenda.
“Together, we will not only deliver a successful summit—we will set a standard that cannot be ignored,” Ibrahim concluded.
NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, was represented at the meeting by Comrade Tita Onyebuchi Nze, Assistant National Secretary, NUJ and WINSEC Project Coordinator.
Speaking on behalf of the NUJ President, Comrade Onyebuchi disclosed that members of the committee were “carefully chosen based on their antecedents and capacity to deliver on given assignments.”
He charged the committee to “leave no stone unturned and explore all possible avenues for a result-oriented, scintillating, colourful outing come June 2026.”
The WINSEC Summit 2026 aims to celebrate excellence and spotlight the competence of women in Nigeria’s security architecture, while creating a national platform for policy dialogue and recognition through the Women in Security Awards.
The planning committee has now commenced work on structure, timelines, and deliverables to ensure the maiden edition becomes a national reference point.