By Ibironke Ariyo
The Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA) has advocated for increased representation of women in uniform, saying it was essential for promoting equality, justice, and women’s rights.
The ROSOWA President, Dr Nafisat Shehu-Mohammed, made the call in her keynote address at the 5th edition of Women in Uniform organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) FCT Command on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was in commemoration of the 2025 UN International Women’s Day celebration with the theme “Accelerate Action”.
This event brought together women from various uniform services, including the military, police, and paramilitary organisations.
The ROSOWA President noted that despite the progress made by women in uniform, they still face significant challenges, including sexism, harassment and discrimination.
She emphasised the need for policies and programmes that promote equality and justice, and urged women in uniform to support one another and work together to break down barriers.
“As women in uniform we are no strangers to challenges and adversity. We have faced obstacles, overcome barriers, and pushed beyond our limits to serve our communities, our country, and the world at large.
“But, despite our progress, we still face significant challenges like sexism, harassment, discrimination, unequal opportunities and unequal representation.
“But today, we gather under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’, a call to action that resonates deeply with me and with ROSOWA.
We believe that it is time for us to accelerate our efforts to promote equality, justice and women rights. We believe that it is time for us to accelerate our efforts to support and empower women in uniform,” she said.
Mrs Shehu-Mohammed stressed the importance of mentorship and networking, saying they were essential for empowering women in uniform and increasing their representation in leadership positions.
According to her, we must create opportunities for women to grow and develop, and provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed.
“I implore us to support one another and by not intimidating each other but rather make an enabling environment for every woman to thrive, build networks, mentorship programmes and a community that uplifts, empower and celebrate not just women in uniform but the entire women folks.
“We must work together to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and push for change.
“Furthermore, it is essential to demand action from our leaders, our institutions, and our societies. We must advocate for policies, programmes, and practices that promote equality, justice and women’s rights.
“We should hold ourselves and others accountable for creating a world that values, respects, and empowers women,” she said.
The ROSOWA President noted that the association had been working to promote road safety awareness, particularly among young people.
She added that the group had been working to discourage under-age driving and promote responsible driving habits.
“We have been working to collaborate with the Corps and other sister agencies to strengthen our impact and influence.
“But we know that we cannot do it alone. We need the support and partnership of women in uniform, and we need the collective action of our communities, our country and the entire populace.
“So, what can we do? How can we accelerate action to address the challenges faced by women in uniform? First, we must recognise our own power and agency.
“We must acknowledge our own strengths, skills and experiences. We must believe in ourselves and our abilities to lead, to serve, and to make a difference,” she said.
The ROSOWA President called on governments, organisations, and individuals to take action to promote the representation of women in uniform, as it was essential for achieving a more just and equitable society.
Highlights of the event were panel discussions on breaking barriers in security, leadership and National development, group photographs among others.
