Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, has called for greater gender equity in global security and governance.
She made this strong appeal at the 2025 Munich Security Conference (MSC), where she joined world leaders to discuss the challenges facing women in leadership and peacebuilding.
Speaking on a high-profile panel alongside Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, Akpoti Uduaghan stressed the urgent need for inclusive governance and gender-sensitive security policies.
“The exclusion of women from decision-making isn’t just unfair—it’s a security risk. To build lasting peace, women must not only be at the table but leading the discussions that shape our future.”
A statement from her media office on Sunday in Abuja highlighted the senator’s concerns over the growing global backlash against women’s participation in leadership, warning that this trend threatens long-term stability and development.
Bringing an African perspective to the discussion, Akpoti Uduaghan shed light on the systemic challenges Nigerian women face in politics, ranging from intimidation to exclusion and political violence.
She called for stronger policies to protect women and create an enabling environment for their active participation in governance.
“The backlash against gender inclusivity in politics and security is not just a setback for women; it is a setback for global development.
“The world must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete actions to ensure that women are not just included in peace and security discussions but are given equal opportunities to lead and influence policies.”
The MSC panel, moderated by a senior policy expert, saw a robust exchange of ideas on gender-based discrimination, political violence, and the role of women in conflict resolution.
President Osmani shared insights from Kosovo’s experience in advancing women’s leadership.
Sanna Marin pointed to the Nordic model of gender inclusivity as a global benchmark.
Commissioner Lahbib reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to integrating women in crisis preparedness and security frameworks.
As the conference wrapped up, there was a unanimous agreement that reversing gender regression requires policy reforms, international cooperation, and sustained efforts to empower women in governance and security.
Senator Akpoti Uduaghan’s participation at MSC 2025 reinforces her growing influence as a global advocate for women’s rights, governance reform, and inclusive security policies. Her message was clear: a just, stable, and peaceful world cannot be achieved without women at the forefront of decision-making.
