Military prioritising human security, gender lens to boost operational success – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, says the military is deliberately placing human security and gender considerations at the centre of its operations to enhance legitimacy, operational reach and mission sustainability.

Oluyede stated this on Monday in Abuja, at the opening of the Human Security and Gender Advisers Course, organised by Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the British Defence Staff.

The CDS was represented at the event by the Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Lassa.

He said the armed forces had recognised that operational effectiveness was closely tied to the trust and confidence of the civilian population.

According to him, the security situation confronting Nigeria today is complex, fluid and multidimensional but beyond conventional threats, we face asymmetric warfare, violent extremism, communal conflicts, transnational crime and humanitarian emergencies that directly impact civilian populations.

“This evolving security environment requires a shift from purely kinetic approaches to inclusive and people-centred strategies that prioritise the protection of lives and human dignity.

“In such a context, security must extend beyond territorial defence to encompass the protection of people, preservation of human dignity and the strengthening of societal resilience.

“Human security and gender considerations are therefore not optional to us; they are force multipliers that reinforce legitimacy, operational reach and mission sustainability,” he said.

Oluyede explained that the course aligned with his strategic philosophy “to consolidate the capabilities of the AFN through enhanced jointness for a reinforced operational posture, supported by improved welfare efforts and sound administration under a whole-of-government approach.”

Under this philosophy, he said the military was being repositioned as “a force that is not only operationally capable, but also ethically grounded, people-centred and responsive to the socio-cultural realities of the operational environment.”

The CDS commended the British Defence Staff and British Army Outreach Group for their sustained cooperation, describing the partnership as a reflection of the enduring defence relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to contemporary, people-centred approaches to national security and has contributed significantly to the enhancement of our operational effectiveness,” he said.

He urged participants to maximise the opportunity offered by the course and ensure that the knowledge gained translated into practical action.

According to him, the skills acquired here must be applied in operational planning rooms, in field deployments and in engagements with civilian populations.

“You are being equipped not merely for personal development, but as agents of institutional change within the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Oluyede said.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Adm. Saburi Lawal, said the course, scheduled to run from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, was another milestone in the long-standing defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Lawal said the course represents a significant investment in capacity development within the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, especially in today’s complex security environment.

He explained that participants were drawn from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and were carefully selected for advisory roles.

“We are confident that your engagement here will enhance professionalism, cooperation and trust between the military and the civilian population we are constitutionally mandated to protect,” she said.