Women as Strategic Assets for National Defence and Security: Mainstreaming Gender, Social Inclusion and Community Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Women constitute an important but insufficiently utilised resource for national defence and security. Although women experience disproportionate effects of conflict and insecurity, their contribution to prevention, intelligence, mediation, peacebuilding, community resilience and security-sector operations remains comparatively underrecognised. This study examines women as strategic assets for national defence and security, with particular attention to gender mainstreaming, social inclusion and community development in Nigeria. The study adopts a systematic document analysis design based on peer-reviewed literature, national policy documents and reports from the United Nations, African Union, Nigerian government institutions and relevant development and security organisations. Documents published principally between 2020 and 2026 were reviewed alongside foundational instruments, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and Nigeria's National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security. The analysis is organised around four themes: women's participation in defence and security institutions; gender-responsive security governance; women's contribution to community-based prevention and resilience; and the relationship between social inclusion, community development and national security. The findings indicate that women's strategic value extends beyond numerical representation in security institutions. Women contribute distinctive perspectives, community access, early-warning capacity, mediation, intelligence gathering, protection, humanitarian response and post-conflict recovery. However, institutional barriers, gender stereotypes, limited representation in decision-making, inadequate financing and weak implementation of gender policies constrain these contributions. The study concludes that mainstreaming gender into Nigeria's defence and security architecture is both an equality imperative and a strategic requirement for effective national security. It recommends institutionalising gender-responsive security governance, expanding women's meaningful participation in security institutions and peace processes, strengthening women-led community resilience structures, and establishing measurable accountability for implementation of Nigeria's Women, Peace and Security agenda.