By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) in collaboration with the United Nations Women (UN Women) has urged religious leaders across Nigeria to take the lead in combating gender-based violence (GBV) through grassroots advocacy and preventive strategies.
This appeal was made during a two-day sensitization workshop held in Lagos at the weekend to equip faith leaders with tools to address GBV within their communities. OAIC Regional President, Dr. Israel Akinadewo, emphasized the vital role religious leaders play in shaping societal values in Nigeria where religion holds great influence. He said: “They serve not only as spiritual guides but also as key influencers capable of driving transformative change within their communities. They will spread the message of eradicating violence from the grassroots to the top, not just through preaching but also by ensuring proper implementation of laws.”
Dr. Akinadewo also called for stronger partnerships between the government and faith-based organizations, stressing that prevention is essential. “It is better to prevent violence than to spend resources on prosecution. By spreading this message, we will see a reduction in cases, saving both victims and the legal system from further strain,” he added.
Akinadewo pointed to deep-seated mental attitudes toward women as a core issue, stressing that “the belief that a man is superior to a woman in leadership has contributed to violence against women.
Ibrahim Nurudeen, Programme Officer for UN Women, cited alarming global statistics during his lecture, stating that “1 in every 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.” He lamented systematic failures in protecting women’s rights, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria. “Such violence has adverse effects on families, especially children. Studies show that the global economy is losing up to $3 trillion due to GBV, which has impacted productivity worldwide,” he posited.
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Daniel Okoh, who also attended the workshop, emphasized the need to reshape societal views on gender through biblical teachings. “We need to deepen our conversations around gender-based violence and use biblical perspectives to correct our orientation so that we do not oppress women or girls. The church will lose if we do not recognize the God-given talents of women,” he said.