To empower troops with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate human security and gender perspectives into military operations while strengthening non-kinetic operational approaches, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on Monday 3 March 2025 declared open the Human Security and Gender Adviser Course, at the National Defence College, Abuja, which was organised by the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the British Defence Staff.
Declaring the 8-Day course open in Abuja, the CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Civil Military Relations (DHQ), Rear Admiral Olusanya Abiodun Bankole stressed that human security and gender considerations are no longer secondary issues in military operations, as they are essential components of strategic planning, operational effectiveness, and sustainable peace.
The CDS said today’s security environment demands not just superior military capability but also a deep understanding of the social, economic, and political factors that impact stability and resilience.
General Musa noted that the course will provide the necessary knowledge and tools to analyse security challenges through a gender sensitive and human-centric lens, which is crucial in shaping the future of our operations and ensuring that our military engagements contribute positively to national and regional stability.
In a world where conflict often clouds our perspectives, embracing non-kinetic strategies fosters human security and inclusivity and ensures that conflicts are navigated with respect for all, regardless of gender, while promoting trust and sustainable peace.
The CDS, therefore, encouraged all participants to take full advantage of this training, engage actively in discussions and utilise the lessons learnt in your respective units and deployments. Your commitment to understanding and applying human security and gender perspectives will not only enhance the professionalism of the Armed Forces of Nigeria but also reinforce its credibility as a force.
Addressing Journalists, the Officer Commanding CIMIC, 11 Brigades, UK Outreach group, Major Mark Pearsall, said he and his team are optimistic that at the end of the human security course, all the participants will have a very good understanding of human security, of gender, the part that gender plays in conflict and conflict prevention, and how they can integrate that into military planning process to develop that consideration of human security risks and also the part that gender plays in that as well.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria is saddled with the critical role of protecting civilians, fostering stability, and building trust among the populace. To achieve this, the Armed Forces of Nigeria must continue to integrate gender perspectives and human security principles into our policies, training, and operations.
SpyeTV News reports that the 8-day Human Security and Gender Adviser Course, organized by the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the British Defence Staff, designed to build capacity and deepen personnel understanding of human security as well as its implication for Gender Advisers.
