by FIDA

BlogSeptember 4, 20240 comments

FIDA NIGERIA ENGAGES GOVERNMENT, TRADITIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO STRENGTHEN GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION MECHANISMS IN PLATEAU, EKITI, AND LAGOS STATES

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, with support from the Ford Foundation, has launched a significant new initiative aimed at strengthening gender-based violence (GBV) prevention mechanisms in Plateau, Ekiti, and Lagos States. This initiative is under the auspices of the “Engagement, Coordination, and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention between Religious, Traditional, and Government Leaders in Nigeria” project. This three-year intervention is expected to commence in July 2024 and culminate in June 2027.

Mrs. Amina Suzanah Agbaje, Country President of FIDA Nigeria, in a statement disseminated to the press, informed Nigerians that this initiative will work closely with key community gatekeepers, including traditional leaders, relevant state actors, religious leaders, and male champions, to institutionalize structures for preventing gender-based violence. Through a five-pronged approach and interconnected intervention areas, this initiative will focus on addressing religious and cultural barriers that impede the functionality of gender-sensitive legal frameworks on preventing gender-based violence, enhancing collaboration and coordination among relevant actors and gatekeepers through a series of dialogues and shared learning forums, while documenting lessons, amplifying successes, and evolving strategies for preventing gender-based violence.

Lending credence to the aforementioned statement, the National Program Manager, FIDA Nigeria, alluded to the preventive approach the organization intends to implement as it aims to accelerate changes in attitudinal behaviors and abandon social and cultural norms that undermine the rights of women and girls in Plateau (North Central), Lagos, and Ekiti (South-West) States.

Mr. Fikih Obaro further emphasized the crucial role of traditional and faith leaders in preventing gender-based violence due to their knowledge of local contexts and their understanding of the predisposing factors and practices that perpetuate GBV. He highlighted the primary goals of the project, which include:
• Engaging traditional and faith leaders from target communities as agents of change and advocates for women and girls.
• Providing platforms for cohesion between governments, traditional, and religious leaders in addressing and preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) through shared understanding.
• Developing a cohort of gatekeepers who will reject social norms and practices that subjugate the rights of women.
• Offering stock-taking, shared learnings, and collaborative platforms among beneficiaries to prevent gender-based violence.

In conclusion, the Country Vice/National President, Mrs. Amina Suzanah Agbaje, encouraged the public to support efforts to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence in local communities across Nigeria. She also invited everyone to follow FIDA Nigeria’s activities related to this project on social media:
• Facebook: @fidanig
• X (Twitter): @fidanigeria
• Instagram: fida.nigeria
• Website: www.fida.org.ng

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless FIDA Nigeria

Amina Suzanah Agbaje (Mrs)
Country Vice /National President