The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, with support from the Ford Foundation, has intensified its campaign against gender-based violence (GBV), urging traditional, religious, and community leaders to sustain efforts toward ending the menace.
The call was made during a two-day Shared Learning Forum held in Jos, Plateau State, which brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, state actors, male advocates of gender justice, and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the forum, Rita Lasoju, Assistant Manager, Programmes and Partnership at FIDA and Project Lead, said the gathering aimed to foster shared understanding and collaboration on GBV prevention strategies that challenge harmful traditional and religious norms.
“The objective is to strengthen community-driven initiatives and promote shared learning among gatekeepers who play key roles in addressing GBV within their communities,” Lasoju stated.
She explained that the platform also enabled participants to share success stories, lessons from interventions, and ways to deepen coordination between community stakeholders and government institutions for long-term results.
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of FIDA’s Country Vice President and National President, Eliana Martins, the Plateau State Chairperson, Na’ankus Fyaktu, said the forum is part of an ongoing project titled “Engagement, Coordination and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention between Religious, Traditional and Government Leaders in Nigeria.”
According to her, since the project’s inception between October 2024 and May 2025, FIDA has organized several dialogues that have empowered community gatekeepers to challenge discriminatory practices and advance gender equality in their localities.
“The second phase of this forum builds on earlier achievements by consolidating gains, strengthening networks, and assessing changes in behaviour and attitudes among community influencers,” Martins said.
“Our goal is to build gender-sensitive, inclusive, and protective communities where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.”
Presenting a performance monitoring report, Jovita Chechet, FIDA’s Senior Impact Assessment Officer, emphasized the importance of documentation and reporting in tracking progress and sustaining community action against GBV.
Meanwhile, community and religious leaders, including HRH Bala Haruna, District Head of Nabor; Rev. Ikpisu Andrew of CAN; Kabir Abubakar of JNI; Inspector Venkat Moses of the Nigeria Police; and Nene Dung of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, reaffirmed their commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence.
