The Nigerian Army has commenced sensitization workshop on gender mainstreaming for enhanced professionalism for its personnel in North East.
The workshop organized by the Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs in collaboration with British Defence Section West Africa also attracted Male and female participants from para-military organizations, Non Governmental Organizations and media.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maj. Gen. W. Shaibu, said the military has zero tolerance sexual exploitation and abuse.
Shaibu who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. S.Y Yakasai, said such workshop was always welcome in places like north east which has mass deployment of personnel, both male and female
“Gender mainstreaming is a strategy for maintaining equality between men and women.
“It involved the integration of gender perspectives into preparation of policies.
“The Nigerian Army is involved in several operations and other activities where both men and women are deeply involved in effective performance of of their duties.
“To effectively discharge their duty there is the need for consideration and balance of responsibility among personnel irrespective of their gender.
“It is against this background that the Army Headquarters is conducting sensitization awareness to enable us understand the role of men and women in our participation in various military activities, ” he said.
He noted that the measure was not only keying into the Federal Government policy to promote gender mainstreaming but also the nation’s position as signatory to some important international conventions such as the Convention on the elimination of all forms discrimination against women.
In his welcome remarks, the Team Lead for the programme, Col. Peter Elayo, who is the Deputy Director Civil Sponsorship Desk at the Army Headquarters, spoke on zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abused in the military.
Elayo tasked participants to accord the workshop the seriousness it deserve to enable them serve as champions of passing the message in thier respective formations and organisations.
