By: Charles Aghedo
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has called for stronger collaboration between the media and the Nigeria Police Force to advance gender mainstreaming and increase public awareness of women’s contributions to policing.
The Council made the call during the Nigeria Policewomen Conference (NPWC) 2026, held in Abuja under the theme, "Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Policing for Inclusive Security and Sustainable Reform." The conference brought together senior police officers, government officials, development partners and civil society organisations to discuss strategies for institutionalising women’s leadership within the Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, the Council’s Auditor, Comrade Rosemary Ukoko-Tega, said the media has often been left out of conversations on gender mainstreaming initiatives within the police, stressing that the Council is committed to changing that through closer engagement with law enforcement agencies.
Ukoko-Tega described gender-responsive policing and a free, independent press as complementary pillars of accountability, transparency and public trust. She noted that sustained media coverage is essential for ensuring that reform initiatives receive the public attention and scrutiny needed for effective implementation.
She said the more than 2,000 journalists operating within the Federal Capital Territory have the capacity to shape public discourse and encourage institutional responsiveness through accurate and timely reporting.
According to her, stronger cooperation between the police and the media would be more productive than maintaining an adversarial relationship. She proposed the appointment of dedicated police liaison officers to work with the NUJ FCT Council and encouraged policewomen to share their achievements, programmes and experiences to improve public visibility.
She added that the recommendations align with the NUJ FCT Council's advocacy for transparency, institutional accountability and media inclusion in public sector reforms.
Participants at the conference also emphasised the need to give greater visibility to the achievements of female police officers, noting that many success stories remain underreported despite increasing representation of women in leadership positions across commands and formations.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Director of Force Medical Services, AIG Nkechi Eze, described the reactivation of the Nigeria Policewomen Conference as a demonstration of the Force's commitment to building a more inclusive and modern policing system.
The Inspector-General acknowledged the contributions of women officers in criminal investigations, forensic science, tactical operations, peacekeeping missions and international assignments. He, however, observed that challenges such as limited mentorship opportunities, inadequate welfare support and barriers to leadership advancement continue to affect many female officers.
He urged participants to move beyond discussions by developing practical recommendations to strengthen leadership development, expand mentorship programmes and promote inclusive policies across the Force. He also encouraged senior female officers to intentionally mentor younger colleagues to ensure leadership continuity and institutional growth.
The conference further recognised the contributions of development partners supporting police reforms and women's leadership initiatives. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of Germany, GS-Foundation and UN Women were commended for their continued partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, while the German Embassy and GS-Foundation received special recognition for their sustained donor support.
Reaffirming its commitment to police reforms, the NUJ FCT Council pledged to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force to improve media access to information on gender-focused reforms and leadership initiatives. The Council said enhanced collaboration would promote transparency and help increase public appreciation of the role of policewomen in strengthening national security and community safety.
The Nigeria Policewomen Conference 2026 was organised 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. The event was held at the United Nations House in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to promote inclusive policing and sustainable institutional reforms.(Lead FM Nigeria)
