Abuja: Nigeria and other West African countries have renewed their commitment to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by empowering male champions and traditional and religious leaders to transform harmful social norms and advance gender equality. The renewed commitment was made at the close-out high-level convening of the Leadership, Engagement, Action and Prevention (LEAP) Project, a Ford Foundation-supported initiative implemented by UN Women on Monday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, stated that the three-year initiative had demonstrated the transformative role of traditional and religious leaders in preventing violence against women and girls. Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Mrs. Blessing Anunike, Director Women Development, said the project had empowered community leaders to challenge harmful social norms, strengthen accountability, and promote positive masculinity.
She emphasized the indispensable role of traditional and cultural leaders as primary mentors of positive masculinity. By redefining what it means to be a man, shifting the narrative from dominance to protection and from aggression to emotional intelligence, leaders are raising young men to become champions of peace rather than perpetrators of violence. The Federal Government is committed to sustaining the gains of the LEAP Project through stronger partnerships with development partners, the private sector, and international organizations.
Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, highlighted that the project invested in prevention by engaging those who shape beliefs, influence behavior, and preserve cultural values. Traditional and religious leaders have become stronger advocates for the rights of women and girls, while communities have publicly rejected harmful practices and strengthened accountability mechanisms. Eyong was represented by Mrs. Patience Ekeoba, Acting Deputy Representative of UN Women Nigeria and ECOWAS.
UN Women has secured renewed funding from the Ford Foundation for community-led advocacy and digital spaces for the safety of women and girls in West Africa. The initiative will be implemented in Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal to address both traditional forms of GBV and emerging technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. Findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey showed encouraging progress, with sexual violence declining from nine per cent in 2018 to five per cent in 2024. Physical violence reduced from 31 per cent to 19 per cent, and intimate partner violence from 36 per cent to 23 per cent. Female genital mutilation prevalence had also dropped from 20 per cent to 14 per cent over the same period, demonstrating that sustained investments in prevention and social norms change were yielding results.
Dr. Izeduwa Derex-Briggs of the Ford Foundation stated that lasting change could only be achieved by transforming the beliefs and behaviors that normalized violence. The LEAP Project has shown that while laws and policies remain essential, harmful social norms can only be effectively addressed through trusted community leaders. The success of this project should be measured by whether girls grow up with greater opportunities, whether communities become safer for women and girls, and whether men and boys increasingly see themselves as partners in building a more equitable society.
Dr. Haliru Yahaya, Emir of Shonga and Convener-General of the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa (COTLA), emphasized that traditional leaders remain custodians of community values, justice, and peace. The LEAP Project has equipped traditional institutions to drive positive social change and challenge harmful practices, including child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other forms of violence against women and girls. Similarly, the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom in Delta State, Mr. Shedrack Peremobowei-Erebulu, called for stronger regional collaboration among African traditional institutions to sustain the fight against GBV.
The event featured panel discussions on sustaining GBV prevention through traditional and religious leadership, recognition of male champions and community leaders, and renewed commitments to advancing women’s rights and positive social norms across Nigeria and West Africa. Notable religious and traditional leaders were conferred awards for championing GBV prevention and social norms change in Nigeria and West Africa.