The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender justice and eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) by strengthening its collaboration with traditional, religious, and government leaders across the country.
This renewed commitment was stated by FIDA’s National Vice President, Mrs Eliana Martins, at the opening of the organisation’s second-year shared learning forum on gender justice, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
The forum is part of the project titled ‘Engagement, Coordination and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention between Religious, Traditional and Government Leaders in Nigeria,’ supported by the Ford Foundation.
Martins noted that the second-year programme builds on the progress made since the project’s launch in October 2024, to ensure the continuity of community-led actions against GBV.
“Through a series of dialogues held between October 2024 and May 2025, beneficiaries have been empowered to challenge harmful traditional, religious, and gender norms that drive violence,” Martins said.
She added that these engagements have encouraged key community influencers to use their platforms to promote gender equality, fairness, and justice, while leveraging local resources to create safer spaces for women and girls.
According to her, the current forum serves as both an evaluation and an opportunity to reinforce partnerships.
“We expect this shared learning event to translate dialogues into concrete actions through an on-the-spot assessment of behavioural and attitudinal shifts among stakeholders,” she said.
Martins urged religious and traditional leaders to continue acting as custodians of knowledge and agents of change within their localities.
“Our goal is to build inclusive, gender-sensitive communities and faith institutions that safeguard women and girls from violence and discrimination,” she emphasised.
Also speaking, FIDA Project Manager, Mr Fikih Obaro, explained that the forum’s essence lies in assessing progress, addressing challenges, and ensuring that all stakeholders have a clear, shared understanding of GBV.
“We want to know what works, what challenges exist, and how we can collectively strengthen the fight against gender-based violence,” Obaro stated.
Similarly, the Vice Chairperson of FIDA Ikeja Branch, Mrs Clara Mbachu, commended the level of progress achieved through the project’s community engagement component, which began in 2024.
“We started this campaign to address GBV against women and girls. This year, we are assessing how well the knowledge gained is being applied and the extent to which communities have embraced behavioural change,” Mbachu said.
She stressed the encouraging responses from churches, mosques, and community leaders who have incorporated messages of gender equality and non-violence into sermons, youth programmes, and public awareness sessions.
According to Mbachu, FIDA’s approach prioritises prevention over punishment by focusing on education and sensitisation.
“Violence against women and children does not make anyone stronger or a better leader. Only a weak person resorts to violence; there are better ways to communicate and resolve conflicts,” she noted.
Mbachu concluded with a call for collective responsibility in eradicating GBV, urging Nigerians to foster peaceful dialogue and mutual respect in homes and communities.
“True strength lies not in aggression but in understanding and respect,” she said, reaffirming FIDA’s vision of a society where justice and equality are upheld for all.
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