The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has reaffirmed that gender mainstreaming in policing is a matter of public interest and pledged closer collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure journalists are included in ongoing gender reform efforts.
The position was restated on Wednesday at the Nigeria Policewomen Conference (NPWC) 2026, themed “Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Policing for Inclusive Security and Sustainable Reform,” held in Abuja.
In her goodwill message, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Comrade Grace Ike who was represented by the Auditor of Council Comrade Rosemary Ochigbo disclosed that the media had historically been left out of discussions and planning around gender mainstreaming in the police and pledged that this would change.
She argued that gender‑responsive policing and a free press are complementary commitments to accountability and public trust, stressing that with more than 2,000 journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a single story on a blocked or ignored policy could trigger rapid institutional response by reporters covering the best and the media at large.
Rather than adversarial engagements, she recommended that the Police designate specific contact persons to channel information to the Council, and urged policewomen to proactively share their stories and activities for amplification across the NUJ FCT network.
“ These positions align with the NUJ FCT Council’s long‑standing advocacy for transparency, institutional accountability and media inclusion in matters of public reform”
she said
The Council’s intervention reinforced the conference’s broader call for sustained visibility of women’s achievements in policing, noting that significant work by policewomen such as gains in leadership representation across commands remains largely unreported due to the absence of structured media engagement.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Inspector‑General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Director of Force Medical Services, AIG Nkechi Eze, said the reactivation of the NPWC reflected the Force’s recognition that modern policing demands the full participation of women at every level of decision‑making.
The IGP acknowledged that women officers have distinguished themselves in investigations, forensics, tactical operations, peacekeeping and international assignments, but noted that mentorship gaps, limited leadership opportunities and inadequate welfare support remain barriers to their advancement.
He called on the conference to move beyond dialogue to practical recommendations on leadership development, expanded mentorship and inclusive policy, while urging senior women officers to intentionally mentor younger colleagues to sustain leadership succession.
Development partners at the conference to include UNDP, the Government of Germany, GS‑Foundation and UN Women, were commended by the IGP for their sustained support of police reform and women’s leadership initiatives.
The German Embassy’s donor support and GS‑Foundation’s project engagement were highlighted as central to the programme’s continuity.
Through its representative, the NUJ FCT Council restated its readiness to work with the Nigeria Police Force to institutionalise media access to gender reform updates, and expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between the press and police leadership will strengthen public trust and increase visibility of women’s contributions to national security.
The conference, convened by the Nigeria Police Force in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, GS‑Foundation, and UN Women, took place at the United Nations House, Abuja.
It brought together senior police officers, government representatives, development partners and civil society actors to chart a path for institutionalising women’s leadership within the Force.
