NSCDC Commits to Strategic Partnership with NAWOJ, Backs WINSEC Summit 2026

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has pledged its full support for the maiden Women in Security (WINSEC) Summit and Awards 2026, promising to build a long-term partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to promote national security, journalists’ safety and women’s participation in peacebuilding.

The commitment was made by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, when he received the National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, and members of the association on a courtesy visit to the Command Headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation formally invited the Corps to partner with the WINSEC Summit and Awards, scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Welcoming the delegation, Odumosu described the initiative as a timely platform for fostering stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies, saying such partnerships are critical to national development.

He assured NAWOJ that the NSCDC would actively participate in the summit despite the short notice.

“I want to assure you that we will do all that we can to make sure that we are part and parcel of this summit. We will always support NAWOJ any time, any day. I look forward to working with you through positive engagements that will help us grow as individuals, as institutions and as a nation,” he said.

The Commandant noted that the summit would help bridge the gap between security institutions and the media, stressing that responsible journalism remains indispensable in promoting public confidence, countering misinformation and enhancing national security.

Odumosu, who recently assumed the role of UNESCO National Focal Person on the Safety of Journalists, also pledged to work closely with NAWOJ and other media stakeholders to improve the protection of journalists across the country.

He said the proposed partnership would focus on advocacy, awareness campaigns, reporting mechanisms and sustained engagement with security agencies to create a safer environment for media professionals, especially women journalists.

The NSCDC chief further proposed expanding the collaboration beyond the summit through capacity-building initiatives and regular engagements with NAWOJ chapters across the country to strengthen media-security relations.

Speaking earlier, NAWOJ National Chairperson, Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, commended the NSCDC for its contributions to safeguarding critical national infrastructure and tackling crimes such as vandalism, illegal mining and crude oil theft.

She said the WINSEC Summit and Awards is conceived as a high-level national forum that will bring together security chiefs, policymakers, diplomats, development partners, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, women leaders, young professionals and journalists to develop practical strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through inclusive leadership and strategic communication.

Aisha appealed to the NSCDC to support the initiative by participating with senior officers as delegates and resource persons, expressing confidence that the collaboration would enhance responsible journalism, strengthen public trust and contribute to national peace and security.

Both organisations agreed to sustain their partnership beyond the summit, with a shared commitment to improving journalists’ safety, promoting effective media-security collaboration and advancing women’s role in peacebuilding and national development.