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The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on women and young Nigerians to play a decisive role in ensuring peaceful and inclusive participation in the 2027 general elections, saying the country’s stability and democratic future depend on citizens choosing unity over division.
The Minister said women must no longer be seen merely as victims of conflict but as critical actors in shaping Nigeria’s security, governance and peacebuilding efforts.
Speaking at the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Women in Security Summit and Awards (WINSEC) 2026 in Abuja, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was implementing policies aimed at expanding women’s leadership in national security and governance.
She urged Nigerians to embrace responsible civic engagement ahead of the next electoral cycle.
“The Power of 10 million voices; One Voice, One Movement, One Choice is not merely a slogan; it is a call to unity, civic responsibility, and purposeful participation,” she said.
According to her, “When 10 million voices speak with one purpose, they become a force that shapes outcomes, strengthens institutions, and safeguards the future of our nation.”
The Minister argued that sustainable peace and national security cannot be achieved without women occupying decision-making positions, noting that evidence across the world shows that peace agreements are more durable when women participate meaningfully in negotiations and post-conflict governance.
“National security is strengthened when women are empowered to lead, inform, and shape public discourse and decision-making,” she said.
She lamented that women and girls remain disproportionately affected by armed conflicts, citing United Nations data indicating that they account for nearly 90 per cent of displaced persons globally, while one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.
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Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the Federal Government was addressing these challenges through the implementation of the National Gender Policy (2021–2026), the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, the Child Rights Act, the Women Economic Empowerment Policy (2023) and the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2025–2030).
She also highlighted the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention (RHSII-774), which, she said, is providing social protection and targeted support to vulnerable women, children and families across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
The Minister linked the initiatives to President Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development, describing strong families as the foundation of national peace and cohesion.
She also underscored the role of the media in promoting peace and accountability, describing women journalists as indispensable partners in countering misinformation, exposing injustice and amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups.
“Women journalists do far more than report events; they shape narratives, challenge harmful stereotypes, expose injustice, counter misinformation, amplify the voices of the vulnerable, and strengthen public accountability,” she said.
At the event, Sulaiman-Ibrahim was invested as National Patroness of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
Accepting the honour, she pledged closer collaboration with the association to promote gender-responsive journalism, strengthen women’s participation in national security discourse and deepen media advocacy for peace, inclusion and sustainable development.
She also congratulated recipients of the WINSEC Awards, urging Nigerians to build a nation founded on justice, equality, inclusion and hope for every woman, family and community.
