National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has underscored the critical role of strategic communication and women’s empowerment in strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture, declaring that inclusive narratives are indispensable for fostering peace, resilience, and social cohesion.
Ribadu, represented by National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Laka, spoke at a high-level event on Monday in Abuja to commemorate International Women’s Day.
The event was organised in collaboration with Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
It was attended by Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum, Olufolake Abdulrazak; female ministers and heads of federal government ministries, departments and agencies, female envoys in Nigeria, development partners, among others.
Ribadu said Nigeria must move beyond traditional security responses and embrace preventive, people-centred approaches rooted in effective communication and gender inclusion.
Quoting the late poet Ntozake Shange — “Where there is a woman, there is magic” — Ribadu emphasised that the theme of the event, “Communicate to Balance, Gain Equity, Empower Women,” reflected the growing importance of narratives in shaping national outcomes, particularly in an era of complex security challenges.
He warned that narratives, if poorly managed, could deepen divisions, but when strategically deployed, could build trust, unity, and national cohesion.
“The way narratives are constructed and shared can either divide us or unite us. In today’s security environment, communication is not optional; it is central to achieving sustainable peace,” he said.
The NSA stressed that modern security threats, including terrorism and violent extremism, required a shift from purely kinetic approaches to preventive frameworks that prioritised inclusivity, community engagement and gender balance.
He stated, “For us at the NCTC, sustainable security goes beyond force. It is anchored on preventive strategies embedded in our national frameworks for countering violent extremism.”
He described women as critical actors in peace-building, early warning systems, and community stabilisation efforts.
Ribadu said, “Women are not just caregivers; they are leaders, mediators and educators whose influence cuts across generations. Their inclusion in governance and security processes is not optional, it is essential.”
He stated that collaboration with NIPR underscored the importance of professional communication in shaping public perception, combating misinformation, and strengthening trust between government and citizens.
In her keynote address, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, reinforced the argument that communication was the backbone of effective governance.
She warned that no matter how well-designed, policies could not succeed without proper dissemination and public understanding.
“A policy document gathering dust changes nothing. A brilliant initiative that cannot be explained to the people has no value beyond the paper it is written on,” she said.
Usman described communication as a transformative tool capable of dismantling systemic inequalities, particularly those affecting women.
Drawing a distinction between equality and equity, she explained that while equality assumed uniform distribution, equity addressed structural disadvantages.
“Equality gives everyone the same shoe size; equity ensures everyone gets a shoe that fits,” she stated, stressing that poorly designed policies often exclude women.
Usman cited data indicating that Nigeria’s gender gap continued to hinder economic growth, stating that closing the gap in workforce participation can increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product by up to 30 per cent.
“Women reinvest as much as 90 per cent of their income into their families and communities. Investing in women is not just social justice; it is smart economics,” she added.
Usman identified barriers, such as limited access to finance, cultural constraints, and workplace policies that disproportionately affected women, especially during childbearing years, urging leaders to create enabling environments that support women’s advancement.
She called for a shift from symbolic gestures to concrete reforms that addressed systemic inequalities and emphasised the need for data-driven storytelling to highlight the benefits of gender inclusion.
“Communication must not only inform; it must diagnose and expose inequities so they can be addressed,” she said.
President of NIPR, Ike Neliaku, urged a fundamental shift in societal narratives about women, calling for an end to portrayals rooted in sympathy and a transition to narratives that promote leadership and empowerment.
“Decades ago, society told women ‘don’t cry.’ Today, we must tell women to lead, to rise and to reshape the future,” he said.
Neliaku highlighted the historical and contemporary contributions of women to national development, stating that they have always been active participants in shaping society.
“Nigerian women have never been spectators; they have always been authors of our national story,” he stated.
He acknowledged persistent challenges, including under-representation in leadership, wage disparities and limited access to opportunities, calling for deliberate and sustained efforts to address them.
He said, “As custodians of public trust and shapers of narratives, we must ensure that communication promotes inclusion rather than exclusion.”
In his remarks, Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, reiterated the importance of women’s inclusion in governance, citing his administration’s decision to appoint female commissioners despite initial resistance.
Kefas said inclusive leadership strengthened governance outcomes and enhanced public trust.
Participants at the event agreed that achieving national stability and gender balance required a whole-of-society approach, combining effective communication, inclusive policies and sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
The gathering concluded with a renewed commitment to leverage communication as a strategic tool for advancing equity, empowering women and strengthening Nigeria’s national security framework.
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