_Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV, has remained a significant and persistent issue in Nigeria despite various interventions by a number of dedicated organisations that have remained committed to reducing it to its barest minimum, *DAUDA ISAMIL* writes._
Amina Ibrahim (not real names), is the first daughter of her father’s third wife. Despite showing signs of academic excellence early in her primary school, her education was cut short in her JSS2 when she was 14 years old. Her parents had betrothed to Aliyu Usman, a son to her father’s business partner since she was five years old and now had to marry him. She cried and wailed, begging to be allowed to continue her education, but all her pleas fell on the deaf ears of her parents whose mind was made up; Amina is a girl child whose duty it is to learn to wait on and please her husband, breed babies, and do his every bidding. That was her place.
When she was eventually married off to Usman, she realised how worthless her place in society was – she had no say even in her personal matters like dressing, food, entertainment, rest and virtually everything else. In addition to that, the man who she was married to, would use her as a punching bag over the flimsiest of excuses, yet she couldn’t complain. This is the fate of many women and girls across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
Over the years, quite a number of organisations have undertaken to enlighten women and girls to speak up, seek redress and demand respect. But despite their efforts, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV, is yet to be seen to reduce across Nigerian societies. According to Madam Christina Uzo-Okamgba, Founder and Executive Director, Tabitha Empowerment Centre, TEC, “At TEC, we remain committed to confronting the scourge of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV, in all its forms – whether physical, emotional, psychological, or structural. This includes deeply harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child and forced marriage, and rape – acts that undermine the dignity, agency, and future of countless women and girls across Nigeria.
“Despite increasing awareness campaigns, SGBV persists in part because it is entrenched in the very fabric of our society. Cultural and patriarchal norms continue to reinforce gender inequality, often excusing or normalizing violence against women and girls. Victims, fearing isolation, stigmatization, or retribution, are often silenced. The prevailing culture of victim-blaming and shaming only compounds the trauma survivors endure and discourages them from seeking help.
“Moreover, while Nigeria has made commendable strides in enacting legislative frameworks – such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, the Child Rights Act, and the National Gender Policy (2022) – implementation remains sorely inadequate. Many states have yet to domesticate key legislation like the VAPP Act. Even where laws exist, enforcement is weak, under-resourced, and often compromised by corruption, bureaucracy, or sociocultural resistance.
To her, “ending SGBV in Nigeria requires more than awareness. It demands a sustained, coordinated response from government, civil society, traditional and religious institutions, and community members. Only then can we begin to dismantle the structural violence embedded in everyday life.”
When asked if the organisation’s message has been permeating the minds of the oppressors, Gladys Emmanuel Esq. Advocacy Officer and In-house Lawyer at TEC responded: “While it is difficult to measure the internal impact of our messaging on perpetrators – owing to the complex nature of identifying and tracking them – there is undeniable evidence of a shift in societal attitudes. Through our advocacy efforts, communities are increasingly acknowledging the gravity of SGBV. Traditional and religious gatekeepers are not only engaging in dialogue but also nominating community members to be trained as champions against SGBV.
“Parents and community leaders are beginning to understand that these issues are not “private matters” to be hidden in homes or settled in silence. We have witnessed a rise in “reportage by proxy,” where individuals report cases on behalf of others – an indication that collective responsibility is taking root. These developments mark a significant cultural shift and represent a major milestone in our mission.”
The UN, through various agencies, has continued to strongly condemn SGBV in Nigeria and actively works to eliminate it. They recognise the devastating impact SGBV has on individuals, communities, and the country’s development, highlighting the link between SGBV and achieving equality, development, and peace.
To this end, in November last year, the UN Women in partnership with African Development Bank launched a High-level Working Group on Gender Response Budgeting, Policies and Institutions, to address the pressing issue of gender-based violence in Nigeria. The UN Women Country Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, said GBV was not just a human rights issue but also an economic issue as that is costing the Nigerian government 1.5% of its Gross Domestic Product.
“We are talking in terms of billions of dollars that the country is losing every year because of Gender Based Violence. So Gender Based Violence is linked to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. So if we do nothing, we will not get out of poverty and we will not get sustainable development.
“The World Economic Forum estimated in its global gender gaps report of 2022 that it will take about 132 years for the world to achieve gender equality. What does this mean for Nigeria? At this space, some of us, including our daughters might not experience gender equality in their time.
“This is therefore a call for collective actions by all international organisations, government agencies, community stakeholders and even the private sector to address the under-representation of women and barriers to gender equality,”she noted.
Also speaking, the Director General, Nigerian Country Department, African Development Bank, Dr Abdul Kamara has said the bank has a very clear stance on Gender Based Violence, GBV, stating that in 2024, AfDB celebrated 25 years of gender mainstreaming in all its operations geared towards evidence based reduction in gender gaps and more importantly, in accelerating gender equality.
“One area where the bank has made a very visible impact in the economic empowerment in the last seven years is increasing access to finance through a special initiative called AFAWA which is an acronym for Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa. In the context of this Pan African Initiative, the African Development Bank seeks to bridge the financing gap of $42 billion currently hindering women-owned and women-led enterprises across the continent and I am glad to report that we disbursed over a billion dollars of this across Africa, seeking to increase access to finance for women”, he said.
The SGBV is a growing concern that requires immediate attention and collective action. Despite the progress made toward dealing with violence, women and girls continue to face violence, discrimination and marginalisation.
Speaking further on how TEC intends to make people change such ways of life that have continued for generations that have in turn made the menace thrive, Gladys Emmanuel Esq said: “Changing deeply ingrained cultural beliefs is no small feat, but it is not impossible. At TEC, we recognise that culture is dynamic, and meaningful change requires intentional, community-centered engagement. Our approach begins with respect—acknowledging the uniqueness of each community and tailoring our interventions accordingly. Before implementing any project, we engage traditional and religious leaders through advocacy visits to secure their buy-in. Sensitisation follows, using trusted local platforms: town-hall meetings, subgroup discussions, storytelling, sports (e.g., football tournaments), traditional communication methods like local drumming, and mass media campaigns via radio, television, newspapers and social media.
“We produce information materials in multiple local languages – English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, and Gbagyi – ensuring our messages are accessible and culturally relevant. Crucially, we also train local Anti-SGBV Community Champions who serve as on-ground advocates and response coordinators.
“By integrating anti-SGBV education into schools and religious spaces, and establishing clubs and peer-learning groups, we instill gender equality values in young people. These multi-pronged strategies are breaking the silence, shifting norms, and laying the foundation for a safer, more just society.”
In spite of this, she continues: “While it is difficult to measure the internal impact of our messaging on perpetrators – owing to the complex nature of identifying and tracking them there is undeniable evidence of a shift in societal attitudes. Through our advocacy efforts, communities are increasingly acknowledging the gravity of SGBV. Traditional and religious gatekeepers are not only engaging in dialogue but also nominating community members to be trained as champions against SGBV.
“Parents and community leaders are beginning to understand that these issues are not “private matters” to be hidden in homes or settled in silence. We have witnessed a rise in “reportage by proxy,” where individuals report cases on behalf of others—an indication that collective responsibility is taking root. These developments mark a significant cultural shift and represent a major milestone in our mission.”
Speaking to Nigerians in general, Mrs Uzo-Okangba said: “We urge every Nigerian – whether man or woman, young or old—to speak up and take action. If you witness abuse, report it immediately to the appropriate authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force (Gender Desk), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, or a trusted civil society organisation. Community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious authorities must stop treating SGBV as a private or family affair. These are criminal offenses and should be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”
