Stakeholders Demand Action Against Gender-Based Violence

At the YouthHubAfrica Men’s Summit 2026 held on Thursday in Abuja, stakeholders including youth leaders, religious authorities, and traditional institutions urged for proactive actions against gender-based violence and child marriage in Nigeria. The Executive Director of YouthHub Africa, Rotimi Olawale, highlighted the importance of engaging men and traditional and religious institutions in addressing these issues.

He noted that while Nigeria has made progress with the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, stronger implementation is necessary. Olawale called for enhanced training for law enforcement agencies to ensure serious handling of violence against women cases.

He also emphasized the need for religious institutions to differentiate between cases requiring counseling and those needing law enforcement intervention. Rev. Fr. George O.

Eusanni echoed the call for better-equipped government agencies, particularly the police, to respond promptly and empathetically to reports of gender-based violence, ensuring survivors are treated with respect and urgency.