Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is home to approximately 232.7 million people, with women accounting for nearly half of the population. Over the years, the country has experienced high levels of conflicts with multiple security threats that include the Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder crises, Niger-Delta militancy, and separatist agitations and violence in the recent past.  As Boko Haram terrorists increasingly weaponize women in their fight against the Nigerian government, and conflict continues to evolve in neighboring countries like Niger, Cameroon, and the Lake Chad Basin, there is an urgent need to expand women’s roles in peacebuilding across Africa to advance national and international security.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, adopted in 2000, highlights the critical importance of women’s involvement in peace and security processes. It has also influenced Nigeria’s peacekeeping strategy, leading to the adoption of the National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 in 2013 and its revision in 2017. Despite increasing advocacy for women’s inclusion in peace and security, their participation in international peacekeeping operations remains limited. As of 2023, women represented just 7% of military personnel in UN peacekeeping and 16% of formed police units, underscoring their continued under-representation in peace missions. [i]

Evidence shows that women’s involvement in peacekeeping significantly enhances mission effectiveness and fosters sustainable peace. [ii]Twenty-five years after the adoption of UNSCR 1325, it is timely to assess the contributions of Nigerian women to UN peacekeeping missions. This article examines these contributions, highlights Nigeria’s peacekeeping legacy, and suggests strategies to overcome barriers facing women in this field.

Nigeria’s Peacekeeping Legacy

Nigeria has been one of the top troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions since gaining independence in 1960. Since that time, Nigeria has sent about 150,000 personnel to peacekeeping operations across roughly 40 major UN and regional missions. Between 2000 and 2011, it was ranked fourth among 116 UN troop and police-contributing countries. In 2013, it had 5,450 soldiers serving as UN peacekeepers, making it the largest troop contributor to the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS). This was from 2004 to 2007. After its deployment in Sudan, Nigeria maintained a sizable force across 10 global peacekeeping missions, mostly in conflict-affected African countries.[iii]

Nigeria has also played a key role in regional peacekeeping missions in Africa, led by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to promote peace and security across the continent. It has participated in African-led peacekeeping efforts with the African Union Mission in Somalia and made substantial financial and military contributions through ECOWAS. It provided75% of the military troops along with significant funding for peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia, which have been regarded as successful in disarming armed rebel groups, facilitating democratic elections, and helping restore peace after prolonged civil wars in those countries. [iv]

How Nigerian women are contributing to UN Peacekeeping Missions.

Although male personnel initially dominated UN peacekeeping deployments from Nigeria, the last two decades have seen an increase in the participation of women in various military, police, and civilian roles to support peace and security efforts. This growth reflects the implementation of national policies and Nigeria’s commitment to meeting international obligations related to gender equality. Nigeria’s National Action Plans (NAPs) on UNSCR were launched in 2013 and 2017 to enhance women’s involvement at all stages of conflict prevention, response, and post-conflict recovery. The National Action Plans led to a number of initiatives, such as the creation of a coalition involving the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Legislative Advocacy on Violence Against Women and Girls, the formation of various women and youth peace networks, the passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunity law in Plateau State, the development of Nigeria Police sector-specific gender policies, and the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill in 2015. [v] Additionally, there was a rise in the recruitment of uniformed peacekeepers. According to the African Defense Forum (ADF), nearly 28% of Nigerian Armed Forces peacekeepers in Nigeria were women by the end of 2023, surpassing the benchmark recommended by the United Nations. The Nigerian Armed Forces and police also established recruitment and training policies that promoted women’s leadership and professional development. [vi]

Nigerian women have participated in various peacekeeping missions: UNMIL (Liberia), UNMIS/UNAMID(Sudan), MONUSCO (DRC), MINUSMA (Mali), and  MINUJUSTH (Haiti), where they led patrols, facilitated humanitarian aid, and served as community links.[vii]  Nigerian women were part of an all-female UN peacekeeping unit assigned to provide additional support and security for women affected by sexual violence during and after the war in Liberia.[viii] Although there are arguments against assigning women to gender-specific roles and using them as quick fixes for sexual violence, research on peacebuilding shows that involving women in peace operations results in higher reporting and a better understanding of sexual violence situations, which can help ensure proper support for survivors. Additionally, since most perpetrators of sexual violence are men, it is easier for victims in host communities to interact with female peacekeepers.[ix]

Female peacekeepers from Nigeria supported in patrolling the streets of Monrovia and helped to secure the headquarters of Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Their peacekeeping efforts in Liberia contributed to the reduction of crime rates and increased cooperation from the local community. They were regarded as role models for girls and women in the community who wanted to participate in peacebuilding activities. [x] Until 2018, the largest Nigerian contingent was deployed to Liberia, and out of 20,000 Nigerians who served in Liberia, only 1500 plus were women. Even so, the peacekeeping mission in Liberia was praised for contributing to the UN’s successful efforts in disarming fighters and overseeing a series of elections.

The Nigerian Police Force has deployed women to missions in Mali, Haiti, and Somalia, where they played key roles in crowd control during unrest, community outreach, and crime reduction, as well as engaging with the local community. For instance, in Mali, Nigerian female peacekeepers in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) liaised with police and local authorities to reduce crime and restore normal activities in areas formerly invaded by terrorist groups. Their efforts in community engagement helped build trust among the local community, promoted women’s participation in peacebuilding, and helped in conflict resolution.   [xi]

Female peacekeepers from Nigeria have also received UN commendations for their exemplary service and for advancing women’s rights in host countries. In 2020, Nigeria’s Police Chief Superintendent, Catherine Ugorji, was selected as one of the two runners-up for the prestigious UN Women Police Officer of the Year award. She was recognized for implementing tactical operations in her unit in Mali to reduce crime and for her efforts to improve the living conditions of policewomen officers. Ugorji also served with the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) from 2006-2007, where she served as a planning officer for FPU operations.[xii] Similarly, Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Akwashiki was honored by UN Women in 2022 for her significant contributions to UN peacebuilding efforts. [xiii] It was stated that the leadership role played by senior UN female peacekeeping officers inspires other women and fosters a culture of inclusion and gender sensitivity within peace operations.

Overcoming Challenges Faced by Women Working in UN Peacekeeping Missions

Despite Nigeria’s longstanding peacekeeping efforts, significant challenges remain that limit women’s participation in international missions. As instability persists in Nigeria, women have been deployed nationwide as part of the security forces responding to the violent conflicts. They have provided intelligence, conducted body searches, particularly in areas where women have been exploited as suicide bombers by Boko Haram, and joined the Joint Civilian-Military Task Force to protect their communities. The ongoing security crises in Nigeria imply that Nigeria’s women’s peacebuilding efforts are directed more towards domestic peacebuilding than international peacekeeping missions.

Cultural and gender norms in Nigeria also continue to hinder women’s engagement in formal security sectors. Prevailing stereotypes assign domestic roles to women and suggest thatmilitary and police work is unsuitable, portraying them as too delicate or incompatible with leadership roles. Some cultural beliefs even suggest that military service diminishes women’s femininity or marital prospects. As a result, women who join the formal security sector may be relegated to specific roles—such as domestic violence advisers—whilst being excluded from strategic leadership positions.

Utilizing the potential of Nigerian women in UN peacebuilding efforts requires targeted changes at structural, institutional, and policy levels. It is essential to establish gender-responsive policies that ensure women's active participation in peace and security processes across all tiers. Women in security and peacebuilding should have access to training and career opportunities that enable them to advance in their careers and take leadership positions. Additionally, efforts to transform societal attitudes through public education and advocacy campaigns are crucial. Leaders in the armed forces and the police have an important role to play in supporting women in peacebuilding by reviewing workplace cultures and reviewing policies that limit women’s roles and participation in the security sector. Family-friendly policies that can support work-life balance for women, such as maternity leave and flexible working adjustments, can also help women in the sector balance their professional and family responsibilities. These initiatives should highlight the positive impact of women in peacekeeping and demonstrate the measurable outcomes of their contributions to achieving lasting peace.

Ultimately, women in Nigeria must continue pushing against the complex barriers and challenges of peacebuilding, understanding that their voices matter and their contributions are vital to creating a peaceful and safe society.

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References:

[i]  UN Women. Facts and figures. Women, Peace, and Security. 2024  https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-women-peace-and-security

[ii] Eric Rudberg. The Importance of Meaningful Participation of Female Peacekeepers, 2023. https://wiisglobal.org/theimportance-of-meaningful-participation-of-female-peacekeepers/ andSarah Marie Ryan. Women for Women: Female Peacekeepers in DRC Congo. 2011, https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/women-women-female-peacekeepers-drc.

[iii] United Nations. Service and Sacrifice. Honoring Nigeria’s Contribution to Peacekeeping. 2019, https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/02/1002901.

Adeoye Akinola.  (2024). The declining role of Nigeria asAfrica’s peacekeeper in the UN Security Council, African Security, 17:1-2,59-86, DOI: 10.1080/19392206.2024.235

[iv] Ibid.

[v]UN 2017.Nigeria’s   ActionPlan,2017-2020  

[vi] African Defence Forum. Nigeria Looks to Increase the Role of Women in the Security Sector. 2024. https://adf-magazine.com/2024/04/nigeria-looks-to-increase-role-of-women-in-security-sector/

[vii]  Zainab Monisola Olaitan. The Representation of Women in African-Led Peace Support Operations. Journal of International Peacekeeping. 2023.

[viii] Sarah Marie Ryan. Women for Women: Female Peacekeepers in DRC Congo. 2011, https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/women-women-female-peacekeepers-drc.

[ix] Eric Rudberg, The Importance of Meaningful Participation of Female Peacekeepers,2023.  https://wiisglobal.org/theimportance-of-meaningful-participation-of-female-peacekeepers/

[x] United Nations. (2019). Service and Sacrifice. Honoring Nigeria’s Contribution to Peacekeeping. https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/02/1002901.

[xi] UN (200). Nigerian Policewoman Recognised by the United Nations forHer Work in Peacekeeping. https://nigeria.un.org/en/98366-nigerian-policewoman-recognized-united-nations-her-work-peacekeeping

[xii] ibid

[xiii]Maxine Ansash. Peace Begins with Her: Amplifying African Women’sRole in UN Peacekeeping. 2025. The Voice of Africa. https://thevoiceofafrica.com/2025/05/29/peace-begins-with-her-amplifying-african-womens-role-in-un-peacekeeping/

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