Army backs NAWOJ, pledges support for Women Journalists

The Nigerian Army has pledged stronger collaboration and support for the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), with the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, describing the association’s acquisition of land for a national secretariat as a significant milestone.

The assurance came when the NAWOJ National Chairperson, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, led the association’s leadership on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Army.

Ibrahim used the visit to present the outcome of the maiden Women in Security, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Summit and Awards (WINSEC), an initiative designed to strengthen women’s participation in conversations around security, peace building and conflict resolution.

She said NAWOJ plans to make WINSEC an annual platform and sought the Army’s partnership, particularly in training women journalists on security reporting, countering misinformation, civil-military relations and peace building.

“WINSEC is here to stay,” Ibrahim said, stressing that NAWOJ wants the Nigerian Army, especially the Civil-Military Affairs Directorate, to become a strategic partner in future editions.

She also appealed for support for the construction of NAWOJ’s National Secretariat Complex, following the association’s acquisition of land after 38 years of existence.

Responding, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Etsu-Ndagi, expressed delight at the development and assured NAWOJ of the Army’s readiness to collaborate with and support the association.

The proposed partnership is expected to deepen interaction between women journalists and the military while promoting responsible security reporting and better public understanding of military operations.

For NAWOJ, the visit marks a step towards turning WINSEC and its new national secretariat project into lasting platforms for stronger engagement between women journalists and Nigeria’s security establishment.