By
Gloria Josiah
The Nigerian Navy has pledged full support for the 2026 Women in Security (WINSEC) Summit & Awards, reiterating its commitment to work with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists to advance national security, strategic communication, and greater inclusion of women in nation-building.
The assurance was given during a courtesy visit by NAWOJโs National Chairperson, Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, and her team to Naval Headquarters in Abuja. The delegation formally invited the Navy to partner on the WINSEC Summit & Awards slated for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, was represented by the Chief of Naval Transformation and Innovation, Rear Admiral Chijioke Onyemaobi.
Speaking on behalf of the Naval Chief, Rear Admiral Onyemaobi regretted his principalโs absence but confirmed the Navyโs commitment.
โI want to assure you that the Nigerian Navy will participate in the summit. I can also assure you that the Chief of the Naval Staff will be pleased to support the initiative. We will not only send a high-level delegation to participate in the summit and its activities, but we will also be glad to render support towards making the event a success,โ he said.
He praised NAWOJ for creating a platform focused on security dialogue, peacebuilding and womenโs role in development, describing the summit as timely and in line with global pushes for Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and womenโs empowerment.
Navy reaffirms commitment to gender inclusion
Rear Admiral Onyemaobi noted that the Navy has sustained efforts to integrate women into strategic and operational roles.
โThe Nigerian Navy believes strongly in gender inclusion. We continue to recruit and empower women, and today many of our female officers are serving in key operational and leadership positions. Their professionalism and contributions have continued to strengthen the Service,โ he stated.
He also recognized the role of women in supporting military families, saying their resilience is vital to the morale and operational effectiveness of personnel.
He further commended the NAWOJ delegation for its professionalism and punctuality, which he said reflect the discipline associated with the Association.
NAWOJ seeks deeper partnership
Earlier, Comrade Ibrahim lauded the Navy for protecting Nigeriaโs maritime domain, securing critical assets, tackling piracy and maritime crime, and supporting the Federal Governmentโs Blue Economy agenda.
She said the WINSEC Summit & Awards 2026 is designed as a national forum to convene military and security leaders, policymakers, diplomats, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, academia, civil society and the media to discuss peace, security and nation-building.
She urged the Navy to partner actively with NAWOJ on the summit, stressing that media-security collaboration is key to fostering public trust, responsible information dissemination and national unity.
The NAWOJ leader also proposed a long-term partnership with the Navy covering capacity-building, strategic communication, public awareness, advocacy on maritime security, environmental sustainability, women, peace and security, and youth engagement.
Discussions at the meeting also focused on gender inclusion in both journalism and the military. Senior naval officers reiterated the Navyโs commitment to providing opportunities for women and encouraged professionalism and excellence across sectors.
Both NAWOJ and the Nigerian Navy expressed optimism that the deepening partnership would improve public understanding of security matters and contribute to a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.
