The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender justice and ending gender-based violence (GBV) through sustained collaboration among traditional, religious, and government leaders.
FIDA’s National Vice President, Mrs. Eliana Martins, made this known at the opening of the organization’s second-year shared learning forum on gender justice held in Ikeja.
She said the forum, supported by the Ford Foundation, is part of an ongoing project titled “Engagement, Coordination and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention between Religious, Traditional and Government Leaders in Nigeria.
Martins explained that the second-year phase of the project aims to consolidate the progress made since its inception in October 2024, having successfully created platforms that empower key community influencers to promote gender equality and challenge discriminatory norms.
“Through a series of dialogues held between October 2024 and May 2025, participants have been empowered to challenge harmful traditional, religious, and gender norms that drive violence.
They have also learned to leverage community resources to promote gender equality and justice,” she said.
She noted that the ongoing forum seeks to assess progress, strengthen networks, and sustain community and state-level actions against GBV, while encouraging leaders to act as custodians of knowledge and agents of change.
This event is expected to translate dialogues into concrete actions by assessing behavioural and attitudinal shifts among stakeholders.
“It will help build inclusive, gender-sensitive communities and faith institutions that protect women and girls from violence and discrimination,” Martins added.
Also speaking, FIDA Project Manager, Mr. Fikih Obaro, said the forum provides a platform for stakeholders to share lessons and experiences in tackling GBV.
“We want to understand what works best for different stakeholders and the challenges they face in addressing gender-based violence,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Clara Mbachu, Vice Chairperson of FIDA Ikeja Branch, said the organisation has recorded significant progress in curbing GBV through community engagement and sensitisation efforts.
According to her, the project launched in 2024 has empowered community members, religious groups, and institutions to take proactive steps toward GBV prevention.
“This year, we are sharing experiences to assess how much impact the campaign has made and how participants have used the knowledge gained to educate others in their communities, workplaces, and places of worship,” Mbachu said.
She added that FIDA has received positive responses from churches, mosques, and community leaders, who have intensified awareness efforts and adopted preventive measures.
Our focus is on prevention rather than punishment.
Religious bodies now include discussions on gender equality and non-violence in sermons and youth programmes, helping to reshape long-held beliefs that tolerate abuse,” she said.
Mbachu emphasized that violence against women and children is a sign of weakness, not strength, urging the public to embrace peaceful dialogue and mutual respect as tools for conflict resolution.
“Violence does not make anyone stronger. True strength lies in communication and understanding,” she concluded.
Written by Wahab Akinlade