Stakeholders have called for a cultural transformation to combat violence against women and girls in Nigeria. The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo III, urged urgent moral reorientation and stronger community leadership to address the rising cases of gender-based violence across the country.
Men-Only Townhall Addresses Gender-Based Violence
The monarch made the call at Nigeria's sixth Men-Only Townhall Meeting, organized by The Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation in collaboration with Women Radio 91.7, with support from the Ford Foundation. The event brought together stakeholders to examine the role of culture, community, and men in tackling gender-based violence.
Represented by the Bobagunwa of Egbaland, Ambassador Toye Okanlawon, the traditional ruler described the situation as alarming and requiring immediate action. He said, "This kind of engagement is long overdue. When you look at what our girls, our sisters, and daughters are going through today, the situation is alarming."
Breakdown of Family Values Linked to Violence
Oba Gbadebo also linked the rise in gender-based violence to a breakdown of values within families and communities, stressing that children often grow up to mirror what they witness at home. He urged traditional rulers and community leaders to take responsibility for ending harmful norms that protect offenders or silence victims. "Custodians of culture must take a stand. What is wrong is wrong, and it must not be tolerated in any community," he added.
Collective Action Needed, Says Chairman
Chairman of the occasion, Yemi Sodimu, described the initiative as a response to a national problem requiring collective action. He noted that communities must take ownership of the fight against gender-based violence. Sodimu warned that inaction would have lasting consequences for future generations and stressed the need to prioritize the safety and development of girls.
Citing figures presented at the meeting, Sodimu said Ogun State records an average of 41 domestic violence cases daily, amounting to about 15,000 cases annually. He added that Lagos documented 8,692 cases of sexual and domestic violence between August 2024 and July 2025. "One in three girls will experience sexual abuse before age 18 in Ogun State, while Lagos documented 2,213 girls suffering violence in a single year, with survivors as young as 18 months," the data revealed.
Alarming Statistics on Child Abuse
Founder and Executive Director of The Gnosis Help Initiative, Olumide Omosebi, said reported cases in Lagos rose from 3,943 in 2020 to over 8,600 within 11 months in 2024, translating to an average of 28 cases daily. He noted that about 86 percent of sexually abused children know their abusers, who are often relatives or close family members. "Children are now more likely to be abused within their own homes," he said, emphasizing the need for urgent intervention.
