By Prosper Mene
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has strengthened its alliance with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) to tackle gender-based violence (GBV), a pervasive issue affecting women and girls across the country.
The partnership, unveiled during a high-level event in Abuja, synce with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and focuses on leveraging religious leaders, civil society, and community networks to curb GBV, particularly in northern Nigeria.
The initiative, titled “Muslim Opinion Leaders for GBV Prevention in Northern Nigeria,” was launched by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with dRPC.
It targets the alarming prevalence of GBV, with data indicating that 25% of married Nigerian women have experienced physical or sexual violence, a figure exacerbated by post-COVID-19 socioeconomic challenges.
Forms of abuse include intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and technology-facilitated harassment, disproportionately impacting northern communities where cultural and religious norms often intersect with systemic gaps.
Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Suleiman-Ibrahim, underscored the initiative’s alignment with national priorities, stating, “This partnership ensures no woman or girl suffers in silence due to harmful cultural misinterpretations.”
The project equips Islamic scholars, imams, and Hisbah (Sharia morality police) officials with training to promote women’s rights through Islamic principles of mercy and non-oppression. Iliyasu Usman, Imam of the National Mosque, emphasized, “Islam prohibits all forms of oppression. We must replace harmful distortions with teachings that empower and protect women.”
dRPC, a non-profit focused on women’s empowerment, has been a key player in GBV prevention since 2019. Its efforts include training over 40 imams in Kaduna and Kano to address sexual, domestic, and psychological abuse from an Islamic perspective.
In 2022, dRPC held workshops for Hisbah commanders across six northwestern states, securing commitments to prioritize survivor protection. The organization also conducts policy research on technology-facilitated GBV and collaborates with partners like the Ford Foundation and the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN).Dr.
Judith-Ann Walker, dRPC’s Executive Director, described the partnership as “a game-changer,” adding, “By empowering faith leaders and aligning with federal initiatives, we’re addressing GBV at its roots and fostering inclusive justice.”
The FG has committed to providing technical support, funding, and integration into national GBV frameworks, including the 2020 state of emergency on GBV.
