By Milcah Tanimu

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women and girls across Abuja. The agreement was formalized during a two-day conference on “Gender and Human Security: Focus on Women in the FCT,” held in the nation’s capital.

The conference, co-hosted by the Women Affairs Secretariat and the Security Services Department of the FCTA, along with the Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement at the University of Abuja, underscores a unified effort to tackle gender-based violence in the region.

Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the mandate secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat, introduced the ‘Orange Module,’ a training initiative under the MoU. This program is designed to educate boys on rejecting sexual and gender-based violence while empowering young girls and older women with self-defense and security awareness skills.

Benjamins-Laniyi emphasized that under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the FCTA is prioritizing the protection and empowerment of women, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

NSCDC Commandant Olusola Odumosu expressed optimism that the partnership would greatly enhance the security and well-being of women in both rural and urban areas, affirming that security encompasses physical, economic, environmental, and social dimensions.