By
Gloria Josiah
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, has pledged stronger backing for gender inclusion in the Nigeria Police Force, saying inclusive policing is a public interest issue that needs consistent media coverage.
The Council made the commitment at the Nigeria Policewomen Conference 2026 in Abuja. The event, themed “Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Policing for Inclusive Security and Sustainable Reform,” gathered senior police officers, government officials, development partners, and civil society groups to discuss ways to embed women’s leadership in the Force.
Delivering the NUJ FCT goodwill message on behalf of Council Chairman Comrade Grace Ike, the Council Auditor Comrade Rosemary Ukoko-Tega said journalists have often been left out of conversations on gender reforms in the police. She said the Council is working to change that by building better ties between the media and security institutions.
Ukoko-Tega noted that gender-responsive policing and a free press reinforce each other when it comes to accountability, transparency, and public trust. She added that media involvement is key to ensuring reforms get proper attention and follow-through.
“With over 2,000 journalists in the FCT, the media has huge capacity to shape public discussion and push institutions to respond,” she stated. “When policies are ignored or poorly implemented, timely and factual reporting can drive action and accountability.”
Instead of a confrontational relationship, she called for a structured engagement model. She suggested appointing specific police liaison officers to work with NUJ FCT and urged female officers to share their work, initiatives, and milestones for media visibility.
“This aligns with NUJ FCT’s advocacy for transparency, accountability, and media inclusion in public reforms,” she added.
A major focus of the conference was giving more visibility to women’s contributions in policing. Participants observed that despite more female officers taking up leadership roles across commands, many of their achievements are not widely reported due to weak engagement with the media.
Speaking for the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Director of Force Medical Services, AIG Nkechi Eze, said the return of the Policewomen Conference shows the Force’s commitment to a more inclusive and modern policing system.
The IGP acknowledged the role of women in investigations, forensics, tactical operations, peacekeeping, and international duties. He, however, pointed to ongoing challenges including mentorship gaps, limited leadership opportunities, and welfare issues affecting female officers.
He charged participants to turn discussions into concrete recommendations to improve leadership training, expand mentorship, and push inclusive policies. He also urged senior policewomen to mentor younger officers to ensure leadership continuity.
Development partners were also recognized for supporting police reforms and women’s leadership programs. UNDP, the German Government, GS-Foundation, and UN Women were applauded for their partnership. Special commendation went to the German Embassy and GS-Foundation for sustained funding and project support that has kept the initiative running.
The NUJ FCT Council reiterated its readiness to partner with the Nigeria Police to secure regular media access to updates on gender reforms and leadership programs. It said closer collaboration would improve transparency and help the public better understand the contributions of policewomen to safety and security.
The 2026 conference was organized by the Nigeria Police Force with UNDP, the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the German Embassy, GS-Foundation, and UN Women.
Held at the United Nations House in Abuja, it served as a platform to advance inclusive policing and institutional reform through stronger women’s leadership.
