FG Gets New Advice On Fight Against GBV: "You Must Prioritise Funding"
- Centre urged Nigerian governments to prioritise funding and policy reforms to involve men in GBV prevention and gender equality efforts
- Organisation launches Male Feminist Network to train and mobilise 1,000 male leaders and grassroots influencers over the next two years
- Dr Igbuzor calls for partnerships with donors, private sector, and media to challenge toxic masculinity and promote gender justice nationwide
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The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development has called on the federal, state, and local governments to prioritise funding and implement policy reforms that embed male engagement in preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and advancing gender equality.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the organisation unveiled its Male Feminist Network (MFN) project, which aims to train and mobilise at least 1,000 male leaders and grassroots influencers in gender advocacy and feminist principles over the next two years.
Source: Original
Founding Executive Director of Centre, Dr Otive Igbuzor, said the initiative was part of “a collective journey to end GBV and promote gender equality in Nigeria”.
Gender inequality still entrenched
Dr Igbuzor noted that women remain marginalised socially, economically, and politically across the globe, with Nigeria facing particularly stark disparities.
“In Nigeria, men gained voting rights in 1922 through the Clifford Constitution, but women across the country only gained the same rights in 1979 – a 57-year gap,” he said.
“Statistics reveal that over 35% of Nigerian women have experienced physical violence, while millions more endure emotional, sexual, and economic abuse.”
He added that patriarchal norms embedded in cultural, social, and legal systems continue to fuel these injustices, with men often acting as perpetrators or passive bystanders.
Men’s influence key to change
According to Dr Igbuzor, men wield influence in homes, workplaces, religious spaces, politics, and traditional institutions, and when this influence is aligned with feminist values, “the change is profound”.
“Over the next two years, through the support of the Ford Foundation, we will build a national network of male feminists, engage community leaders to adopt gender-sensitive practices, and use media to challenge toxic masculinity,” he said.
Call for funding and partnerships
To achieve this vision, Dr Igbuzor urged the Nigerian government “to prioritise funding and policy reforms that institutionalise male engagement in GBV prevention and gender equality work”.
He also called on donors, development partners, and the private sector to join the effort.
“With more resources, we can scale this model beyond Nigeria and across Africa,” he said.
Board chair stresses media’s role
Chairperson of the Centre board, Kyauta Agmadalo Giwa, said the launch of the MFN marked a “collective commitment to reshaping narratives and building a more equitable society for all”.
“The Male Feminist Network is rooted in a simple but radical idea: men must be allies, advocates, and active participants in the movement for gender justice. Feminism is not just a women’s issue, it is a human issue,” she stated.
Source: Legit.ng
