Nigerian Army Women Command Host Seminar and Luncheon To Commemorate International Women’s Day 2025

Nigerian Army Women Command Host Seminar and Luncheon To Commemorate International Women’s Day 2025

The Headquarters Nigerian Army Women Command hosted a Seminar and Luncheon on Saturday 8 March 2025 to commemorate International Women’s Day for the year. The auspicious event was held in a grand style at Lt Gen TA Lagbaja Auditorium Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information, Giri Abuja.

The event was aimed at motivating, educating and encouraging women in the Nigerian Army on the need to Accelerate Action towards gender equality and balance by building their capacity to be professionally competent to take up roles and responsibilities for career progression.

In declaring the Seminar open, The Special Guest of Honour, Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army), Maj Gen Olusegun Abai, ably represented by the Deputy Chief of Transformation Maj Gen AC Adetoba, stated that the Celebration of the International Women’s Day by the Nigerian Army Women Command is a reaffirmation of Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity, equal opportunity and empowering women in service. He noted that the Nigerian Army appreciates the contribution of its female officers and soldiers to the overall success of the system.

The Special Guest of Honour further stated that the inclusion of female personnel as participants at the Chief of Army Staff Conferences is
a clear indication of the Nigerian Army’s drive towards the implementation of gender balance in decision making processes. The Special Guest of Honour thereafter charged the participants to remain focused, motivated and result oriented to ensure their contributions to national security is impactful.

In his welcome remarks earlier, the Commander Nigerian Army Women Command, Brig Gen Mathias Amatso stated that the celebration is inspired by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen OO Oluyede’s Command Philosophy which is “To Consolidate the Transformation of the Nigerian Army Towards Bequeathing a Well-Motivated and Combat-Ready Force that can Effectively Discharge its Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment”. He further highlighted that the Seminar and Luncheon is one of the several steps geared towards building the combat readiness of Nigerian Army Personnel – especially for the women in service, to ensure effective discharge of their constitutional Responsibility.

The first lecture at the Seminar was delivered by the DG NYSC Brig Gen OO Nafiu on the topic Empowering Women in the Nigerian Army: Strengthening Capacity for Career Advancement.
The second lecture was delivered by LT Col SJ Dibal (Rtd) on the topic: Overcoming Gender Based Challenges in the Military.
During the robust Interactive Session, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) Prof Patricia Manko Lar commended the Nigerian Army for being at the fore front of Gender Inclusivity among several institutions. She expressed her delight in seeing many women in the Nigerian Army at various levels of leadership. Thereafter she encouraged female personnel in the Nigerian Army to strengthen their capacity so that they can compete favourably for any position in the system and also do well in positions of leadership. Female personnel at the event also expressed immense gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen OO Oluyede NAM for celebrating them in such a memorable and highly motivating manner.

Other Highlights of the event were the presentation of souvenirs, group photographs and a well organized luncheon.