Nigeria’s 2025 Fight Against Gender-Based Violence: What’s Working, What’s Not

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains an ugly blight in Nigeria’s social fabric, even as public conversations grow louder and more urgent. As an expert entertainment journalist writing for NaijaScene.com, I know that this is not just a political or human rights issue — it also intersects with the world of celebrities, social media, and community influencers. This blog post examines how Nigeria is curbing gender-based violence in 2025, what gains have been made, and where we’re still falling short.

Introduction

In Nigeria, the stories of gender-based violence (GBV) make headlines, but for many survivors, their pain remains buried, unaddressed, or swept under cultural carpets. As we step into 2025, the fight to curb GBV is being waged on multiple fronts — from government policies and legal reform, to grassroots activism, religious institutions, and community mobilisation.

This post dives deep into how Nigeria is trying to curb gender-based violence in 2025, spotlighting the wins, the gaps, and what really needs to change. If you're reading this on NaijaScene.com, you already know we cover today’s Nigerian celebrity gossip, but sometimes the biggest story isn’t about who’s dating who — it’s about who’s speaking out, who’s demanding justice, and who’s building a safer future.

1. The Scale of the Problem: What the Data Says in 2025

1.1 Prevalence of GBV

• According to the Minister of Women Affairs, 30% of Nigerian women aged 15–49 have experienced physical or sexual violence. 

• Between 2020 and 2024, over 30,000 GBV cases were officially reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs. 

• The statistics represent a deeper truth: one in every three Nigerian women has some form of violence in her history. 

These are not just numbers — they are lives shattered, dreams cut short, and generational trauma. The Minister described them as “alarming” during a knowledge-sharing event. 

1.2 Geographic and State-Level Variations

• A Womanity Index report highlighted that Lagos, Rivers, and Ekiti lead in GBV response among states. 

• According to Nigeria’s Third Voluntary National Review for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, some states still lag behind in eliminating harmful practices like FGM/C. 

1.3 Femicide and Extreme Violence

• Femicide Nigeria, a database tracking gender-based killings, estimates that intimate partners are responsible for a significant portion of murdered women. 

• Activists have sounded the alarm: in early 2025 alone, nearly two dozen women were killed in suspected GBV-related cases, prompting calls for a state of emergency. 

2. Legal and Policy Framework: Laws on the Books — and Their Limits

2.1 The VAPP Act (Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act)

• Enacted in 2015, the VAPP Act is supposed to criminalize a wide range of violent acts — including domestic violence, rape, forced isolation, and so on. 

• While the law is relatively comprehensive, enforcement remains weak in many states. Survivors often struggle to access justice, and many cases do not lead to meaningful prosecution.

2.2 Strengthening Legal Instruments in 2025

• In 2025, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening laws and ensuring implementation. 

• The Ministry of Women Affairs plans to review legal instruments, ensuring tougher penalties and more deterrent measures. 

• There is also a push for multi-sectoral collaboration: the government is engaging with religious leaders, traditional authorities, and civil society to shift norms that protect perpetrators.

2.3 National Action Plans & Data Systems

• As part of broader efforts, Nigeria has set up a national electronic dashboard to collect GBV data more reliably. 

• Such data systems aim to improve accountability, help direct resources, and monitor progress — but they still face challenges in terms of coverage and timeliness.

3. Grassroots Mobilisation: Community, Faith & Culture

3.1 WomenAid Collective & Grassroots Institutions

• In October 2025, WomenAid Collective (WACOL) launched a two-year initiative in partnership with nine grassroots organizations from all six geopolitical zones. 

• Their strategy? Train 1,000 women religious leaders and 500 cultural leaders, including traditional titled women (like Igbo Umuada), to challenge harmful practices and transform religious/cultural norms. 

• The idea: churches and cultural institutions can be powerful platforms for transformation — not just sites where abuse unfolds.

3.2 Role of Faith-Based Organizations

• The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged for tougher laws and stronger action, not just from government, but from religious institutions themselves. 

• CAN is rolling out trainings for clergy, awareness campaigns in churches, and supporting survivors — signalling that faith leaders are no longer silent bystanders.

3.3 Traditional Leaders & Community Responsibility

• At a town-hall meeting in Ogun State, centred on the theme “Our community, our responsibility,” stakeholders decried how religious and traditional leaders often “settle” GBV cases internally, shielding perpetrators. 

• Experts call for these leaders to stop facilitating cover-ups and instead become agents of justice — reporting to formal authorities and advocating for survivors.

4. Survivor Support: Infrastructure & Services

4.1 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs)

• The government has established 47 SARCs across 22 states + FCT, offering medical care, psychosocial support, safe spaces, and empowerment for survivors. 

• These centres are crucial, but there's still a coverage gap: many rural areas lack access, and survivors often don’t know where to turn.

4.2 Training, Awareness, and Capacity Building

• Through the WomenAid Collective initiative and other NGO-led programs, community leaders are being trained to identify, prevent, and respond to GBV. 

• These trainings emphasize attitudinal change: it’s not enough to condemn violence; structures must change too.

4.3 Data & Monitoring

• Survivors’ data is being collected more systematically via the GBV Data Situation Room, according to the Ministry’s reports. 

• Better data helps identify hotspots, allocate resources, and pressure authorities to follow through with justice.

5. Public Advocacy, Campaigns & Civil Society Pressure

5.1 16 Days of Activism

• Nigeria’s participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV continues to be a cornerstone for public awareness. 

• These campaigns include school visits, town-hall meetings, media engagements, and more — designed to challenge cultural norms and inform citizens of survivors’ rights.

5.2 Civil Society Demands: State of Emergency

• Activists have called for a state of emergency in response to rising GBV fatalities. 

• They argue that existing systems are overwhelmed, and more urgent, structural intervention is needed to prevent further deaths.

5.3 Economic Arguments & Gender Justice

• According to the Women Affairs Minister, closing gender gaps could boost Nigeria’s GDP by ₦15 trillion annually by 2025. 

• This argument reframes GBV not just as a moral or social issue, but as an economic one: violence undermines productivity, health, and development.

6. What’s Working: Wins to Celebrate

1. Stronger Legal Commitment

   • The government is publicly affirming its intention to strengthen enforcement, not just pass laws. 

   • Plan to review and toughen legal instruments.

2. Community Engagement

   • Grassroots training via WACOL and other NGOs is empowering religious and traditional leaders. 

   • Faith-based groups like CAN are mobilising their own congregations. 

3. Survivor Support Infrastructure

   • 47 SARCs across 22 states + FCT exist, providing critical services. 

   • Data collection via the GBV dashboard is improving monitoring. 

4. Public Awareness & Advocacy

   • Regular campaigns like the 16 Days of Activism raise visibility. 

   • Economic framing of gender justice helps deepen public and governmental buy-in. 

5. Civil Society Pressure

   • Activists pushing for a state of emergency are amplifying voices at national level. 

   • Women-led NGOs are transforming cultural narratives at the grassroots.

7. What’s Not Working (Yet): Gaps & Challenges

Despite the progress, significant barriers remain:

7.1 Enforcement Lags

• Many states do not fully implement the VAPP Act. Laws exist, but conviction rates and prosecutions remain low.

• Survivors may still fear going to court due to stigma, cost, or lack of trust in the judicial system.

7.2 Data and Reporting Gaps

• The national GBV dashboard is a good idea, but data completeness is a challenge: underreporting, especially in rural areas, skews the picture.

• There is often a disconnect between data collection and meaningful policy response.

7.3 Cultural and Religious Resistance

• Even though WACOL is training religious leaders, deep-seated patriarchal norms still persist. Some spiritual and traditional leaders minimize or hide cases instead of reporting them. 

• There’s a danger that “settling” cases in the community (instead of taking them to court) will continue to be the norm.

7.4 Inadequate Survivor Services Coverage

• While 47 SARCs exist, many states don’t have enough coverage, especially in rural or remote regions.

• Survivors may also lack access to psychosocial care, legal aid, or economic empowerment.

7.5 Funding & Sustainability

• Many of these efforts rely on NGO funding (e.g., Ford Foundation), which may not be sustainable long-term.

• Without stronger government budget allocation, key programs may be underfunded or not scaled.

7.6 Weak Institutional Commitment

• Some critical bodies, like inter-ministerial committees, have not convened regularly enough. For example, activists claim a committee set up to oversee GBV didn’t meet more than twice. 

• There is also concern that political will may wane, especially once immediate public pressure subsides.

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8. Case Studies & Real-World Examples

Here are some concrete examples that illustrate how these trends are playing out on the ground in 2025:

Case Study 1: WomenAid Collective Training Program

• In Lagos, WACOL has started training female church leaders and cultural role models. The aim is to build a network of grassroots women leaders who can hold their communities accountable. 

• Among the trained leaders are titled women (e.g., Umuada in Eastern Nigeria), who wield influence. These women are being equipped to challenge harmful norms.

Case Study 2: Community Mobilisation in Ogun State

• At a CEWHIN-organized town hall in Yewa South, traditional and religious leaders were called out for covering up GBV cases. 

• This meeting brought together Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWAN), youth leaders, and artisans — showing a truly cross-sector effort.

Case Study 3: Faith-Based Action

• CAN, during a high-profile launch, called for tougher GBV laws and committed to building structures within churches to respond to abuse. 

• This move is highly symbolic — religious leaders publicly acknowledging their role in preventing GBV, rather than ignoring or hiding it.

Case Study 4: Data Transparency via the GBV Dashboard

• The Ministry of Women Affairs, with support from UN Women and other partners, is rolling out a dashboard to centralize GBV reports. 

• The idea is to make data public, drive accountability, and flag red-flag areas where interventions are most needed.

9. Expert Commentary & Analysis

As someone deeply plugged into Nigerian social dynamics, here’s my take:

• Real progress is happening, but it's fragile. The legal and policy reforms are necessary — but without consistent enforcement, they risk being just window-dressing.

• Cultural transformation matters more than just legislation. Training religious and traditional leaders is one of the smartest bets Nigeria is making right now. These are the people who shape norms in local communities.

• Support services need scaling. SARCs are excellent, but their reach isn’t yet universal. Survivors in rural or impoverished areas remain underserved.

• Data is power. If the GBV dashboard becomes fully functional and transparent, it could be a game-changer — enabling activists, policymakers, and citizens to track where violence is happening and demand justice.

• Public awareness must remain high. Campaigns like 16 Days of Activism are not just symbolic: they sustain pressure. But they must be backed by continuous education, not just once-a-year events.

• Funding and sustainability are key. Many efforts are donor-driven. For long-term change, Nigeria needs to commit its own budget to GBV prevention, survivor support, and structural reform.

10. The Role of Media, Celebrities & Influencers

Because this is NaijaScene.com, I’d be remiss not to highlight how media and celebrities can help:

1. Celebrities Using Their Platforms

   • Nollywood stars, musicians, influencers — they can amplify the fight against GBV. When high-profile figures speak out, it helps destigmatize survivors.

   • Social media campaigns led by celebrities can drive donations for SARCs, training programs, and legal aid.

2. Entertainment Reporting with Impact

   • Media houses (including gossip/lifestyle blogs like ours) should treat GBV stories with care, responsibility, and depth — not just sensationalize.

   • Covering community efforts, survivor stories, and advocacy campaigns helps shine a light on what’s working and what’s not.

3. Youth & Pop Culture Engagement

   • Nigeria’s youth are deeply active on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X. Creative campaigns (dance, spoken word, short films) can drive conversations beyond traditional advocacy.

   • Influencers can partner with NGOs to host virtual town halls, fundraisers, or mentorship programs for survivors.

11. What Needs to Happen Next: Recommendations

To make 2025 a turning point in Nigeria’s war on GBV, here are key recommendations:

1. Strengthen Enforcement of VAPP Act

   • Increase funding for law enforcement training.

   • Ensure state-level adoption and consistent application of the VAPP Act.

   • Establish fast-track courts or special GBV units to handle cases.

2. Scale Survivor Services

   • Expand the network of SARCs, especially in underserved rural areas.

   • Provide sustainable funding for psychosocial support, legal aid, and economic reintegration for survivors.

3. Sustain Grassroots Engagement

   • Continue training religious and traditional leaders across all regions.

   • Create peer-led community groups for GBV prevention — especially among men and boys.

   • Promote “positive masculinity” programs to reshape harmful gender norms.

4. Improve Data Systems

   • Fully operationalize and publicize the national GBV dashboard.

   • Encourage community reporting and feedback loops so local issues are not hidden.

   • Use data to inform resource allocation, policy design, and monitoring.

5. Increase Government Accountability

   • Strengthen interministerial committees and ensure they meet regularly.

   • Mandate public reporting on GBV outcomes (prosecutions, convictions, survivor support).

   • Allocate a dedicated national budget line for GBV response and prevention.

6. Leverage Media & Influencers

   • Partner with popular Nigerian artists, actors, and influencers to run awareness campaigns.

   • Promote survivor storytelling in mainstream and social media.

   • Embed GBV education in pop culture (films, concerts, web series).

7. Sustain Public Campaigns

• Build on the 16 Days of Activism; extend awareness to year-round programs.

• Use schools, universities, community centers to host workshops and safe-space dialogues.

• Involve men and boys actively in advocacy, not just as bystanders but as change agents.

• For more on broader Nigerian social issues, see: Nigeria News and Gossip: The Untold Stories Shaping 2025

• And check out: Nigerian news and gossip (latest updates

Conclusion

Nigeria’s battle against gender-based violence in 2025 is a story of hope tinged with urgency. The pieces are in place: legal frameworks, grassroots movements, survivor services, and public campaigns. But the real work lies ahead — enforcement, sustainability, and cultural shift.

We are seeing genuine commitment from government, NGOs, faith-based organisations, and civil society. Yet, for progress to last, we must deepen systems, broaden reach, and amplify survivor voices. It’s only when communities unite — across religion, tradition, age, and gender — that we can start to see the scale of transformation that Nigeria so desperately needs.

Wetin you think about this matter? Drop your thoughts in the comment section! Do you believe 2025 can be the year Nigeria turns a corner on GBV, or are we just repeating old promises? Let’s talk.