The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has taken a significant step to address gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria by engaging traditional and religious leaders.
“We provided a platform for Muslim, Christian, and traditional rulers to discuss how to promote and achieve gender justice,” said Margaret Fagboyi, one of the organisers at the grant inception of the gender justice scale-up project in Abuja on Tuesday.
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The initiative, initially founded by Christian Aid in 2018, has expanded to include a broader coalition. Margaret noted .
“This global movement involves individuals, organizations, faith-based groups, and communities working together to combat gender-based violence.
“The goal is to create a platform for traditional and religious leaders to discuss and reduce various forms of GBV, including rape, female genital mutilation, bullying, harassment, and forced marriage,” she explained
“We are collaborating with NGOs and following the Sustainable Development Goals’ mantra of ‘leave no one behind.'” Speaking on the Ford Foundation’s support, Fagboyi highlighted the impact of similar efforts in Kano and Benue States.
“We conducted assessments and engaged stakeholders, including NAPTIP, human rights organizations, Hisbah, civil society organizations, CAN, and Muslim associations to understand and address the violence.
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“We are forming associations in all geopolitical zones to develop strategies to reduce GBV across Nigeria.
Centre LSD Executive Director, Monday Osasah, emphasized the challenge of GBV to development. He said “The side-by-side project, initiated in 2018, aims to deconstruct harmful notions of masculinity and advocate for a healthier understanding of what it means to be a man”.
“Our gender justice initiative is critical for deepening advocacy and reducing violence against both men and women.”
