Amid growing concerns over rising cases of domestic and sexual violence against children, AXA Mansard has strengthened its partnership with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) to intensify awareness and prevention campaigns across communities in Lagos.
The initiative, launched under the 2026 AXA Week for Good themed “Being A Child Shouldn’t Be A Risk,” aims to enhance public enlightenment, encourage timely reporting of abuse cases, and strengthen child protection mechanisms at the grassroots level.
As part of the campaign, employee volunteers from AXA Mansard Insurance Plc will conduct door-to-door sensitization exercises in collaboration with the agency, while the DSVA will provide technical support, training, and guidance throughout the program.
The insurer noted that the initiative builds on the success of its 2025 collaboration with the agency, which primarily focused on school-based interventions designed to educate pupils and teachers about domestic and sexual violence.
Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, stated that the 2026 campaign specifically targets families, parents, caregivers, and community leaders, as available statistics indicate that most abuse cases occur within homes and involve individuals known to children.
According to her, over 60 percent of domestic and sexual violence cases involving children are linked to persons known to them, making sustained community sensitization critical in addressing the challenge. She disclosed that the initiative will cover six communities where volunteers will educate residents on identifying abuse, understanding reporting channels, and adopting safe parenting practices.
Surakat emphasized that AXA Mansard remains committed to social advocacy against domestic and sexual violence, stressing that corporate organizations have a responsibility to contribute to building safer communities where they operate. She added that about 96 percent of the company’s employees dedicated at least 30 minutes of their working hours to volunteer activities focused on combating domestic and sexual violence during the 2025 edition of the program.
Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, stated that domestic and sexual violence thrives in silence, ignorance, and fear, underscoring the need for continuous public education and stronger community engagement. She commended AXA Mansard for sustaining the partnership, noting that protecting children requires collective action involving government institutions, the private sector, and the public.
According to her, taking advocacy directly into communities will empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge needed to identify warning signs, protect vulnerable children, and promptly report abuse cases.
Industry stakeholders noted that the initiative reflects the growing role of insurance firms in advancing social impact and environmental, social, and governance commitments beyond traditional underwriting activities. They observed that insurance operators are increasingly integrating social intervention programs into their corporate sustainability strategies as part of efforts to strengthen consumer trust, improve brand reputation, and contribute to national development goals.
The stakeholders added that partnerships between private organizations and public agencies in addressing domestic and sexual violence could help bridge awareness gaps, improve reporting culture, and strengthen support systems for vulnerable groups, particularly children.
AXA Week for Good is the flagship program under AXA Mansard’s employee volunteering initiative, AXA Hearts in Action, through which employees reportedly contributed more than 20,000 volunteer hours in 2025.
