Stakeholders across Nigeria’s media and security sectors have inaugurated a planning committee for the Women in Security Summit 2026 (WINSEC) and Women in Security Awards, marking a bold step toward amplifying women’s voices in national security discourse.
The development followed a high-level virtual meeting involving key representatives from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, signaling the official commencement of preparations for the landmark summit scheduled for June 2026.
Speaking at the meeting, NAWOJ National Chairperson, Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, described the initiative as far more than a routine event.
According to her, the summit represents a strategic effort to position women at the heart of security decision-making in Nigeria.
“This is not just another event on our calendar,” she stated. “It is a deliberate intervention to ensure women are present where policies are shaped and where the future of our nation is defined.”
Comrade Ibrahim emphasized that NAWOJ is stepping beyond observation to actively drive change within the security landscape. She noted that security goes beyond weapons and borders, highlighting the importance of addressing the lived experiences of women and communities.
“The WINSEC Summit provides a platform to showcase competence, celebrate excellence, and reshape the narrative around women in security,” she added.
She, however, cautioned that the success of the maiden edition would depend heavily on execution, urging members of the planning committee to be focused, intentional, and solution-driven in delivering results.
Also speaking, NUJ President, Alhassan Yahaya, represented by Tita Onyebuchi Nze, said committee members were carefully selected based on their track records and capacity to deliver.
He charged the team to work diligently and explore all possible avenues to ensure a successful and impactful summit.
The WINSEC Summit 2026 is designed to highlight the contributions of women within Nigeria’s security architecture, while also creating a national platform for dialogue, policy engagement, and recognition through the Women in Security Awards.
With the committee now in place, work has begun on timelines, structure, and deliverables aimed at making the inaugural edition a benchmark event in Nigeria’s security sector.
