In a nation grappling with insurgency, banditry, and rising social tensions, a groundbreaking conference hosted by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Zone D, brought clarity to an often-overlooked truth: women journalists are not just chroniclers of Nigeria’s security crisis—they are essential actors in solving it.
Held at the International Conference Centre Pavilion in Abuja, the event drew media professionals from across the North Central zone—including Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, and the FCT—to examine the theme: “Curbing Insecurity: The Role of Women Journalists in National Security.” Over the course of the day, three federal ministers, alongside NAWOJ leadership, issued a united, urgent call for women in media to take the lead in shaping the nation’s security narrative.
In his keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, declared that journalism, particularly as practiced by women, is a force multiplier in the national security ecosystem.
“Women journalists are not passive observers. They are first responders, caregivers, and truth-tellers with unique access to grassroots realities,” he said. “They bring empathy and resilience to a space that desperately needs both.”
Idris stressed that women in the media must use their platforms to counter misinformation and hate speech—tools increasingly weaponized to fracture national unity. He announced new government initiatives to safeguard press freedom and enhance media literacy as part of a broader national security strategy.
“Information is power, and women journalists are powerful. It’s time we recognized their role in securing the soul of our country,” Idris affirmed.
Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, took the message further. With passionate clarity, she called women journalists “architects of truth and stewards of transformation,” urging them to wield their storytelling power as instruments of justice and unity.
“You are more than conveyors of news,” she said. “You must move beyond headlines and amplify the voices of the marginalized, challenge injustice, and help heal a fractured society.”
Imaan aligned her call with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that national security goes hand-in-hand with social inclusion. She highlighted flagship programmes under her ministry—including the Nigeria for Women Programme and the National Family Strengthening and Development Programme—that aim to tackle the root causes of unrest through economic empowerment and family cohesion.
“These programmes are not enough without collaboration,” she warned. “We need you—the storytellers, the shapers of public consciousness—to help us reach every corner of this country.”
Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, brought the conversation closer to home. She detailed specific initiatives being undertaken in Abuja to reduce insecurity: increased surveillance, improved collaboration among security agencies, and infrastructure upgrades designed to eliminate criminal hideouts.
“Women journalists are key partners in these efforts,” Mahmoud said. “You bring a unique lens to reporting—one that centers community, humanity, and resilience. Your voices matter in crafting narratives that unite, not divide.”
Mahmoud also used her platform to highlight the risks women journalists face—from harassment to underrepresentation—and called for structural reforms to protect them.
In her stirring address, Chizoba Ogbeche, Vice President of NAWOJ Zone D, emphasized the constitutional role of journalists as the Fourth Estate of the Realm and challenged her colleagues to rise to the moment.
“This is more than a conference,” she declared. “It’s a movement. We must define our roles in this security crisis—not just as professionals, but as mothers, daughters, and citizens.”
Ogbeche underscored the need for deeper engagement with civil society, security agencies, and academic institutions to improve the quality and impact of security reporting. She noted that female journalists have already played a critical role in uncovering atrocities from Boko Haram insurgency to police abuses.
“Our storytelling brings balance to national dialogue. It ensures that the pain of the forgotten is heard and remembered,” she said.
As the conference drew to a close, the collective message from all speakers was unmistakable: Nigeria’s security challenge is too complex, too human, and too urgent to be left to the military alone.
From national policy to community action, from government programmes to grassroots narratives, women journalists are not only part of the solution—they are central to it.
The conference ended with a resolution to develop an action plan that defines how NAWOJ will amplify peace journalism, collaborate with security agencies, and protect the rights of its members. The goal is clear: to build a media corps of women who are not just documenting the nation’s journey, but directing its path toward peace.
As Minister Idris put it: “In the stories you tell, lies the future of Nigeria.”
