WARRI/Nigeria: In a bold move to stem the tide of gender-based violence (GBV) and promote the rights of women and girls, a non-governmental organisation, Otdel Health Heritage Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), has trained over 50 women in Ugbuwangue community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The training, held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Yonwuren and Agbeje Family Hall, was tagged “Stop Violence Against Women & Girls for a Better Nigeria.” It aimed to empower participants with practical skills to combat GBV and become frontline advocates for women’s rights in their community.
Peter Olayinka, Programme Director at OHHEI and the lead trainer, described GBV as a persistent global human rights crisis. He noted that one in three women globally faces physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, adding that Nigerian women continue to suffer from various forms of abuse despite legal frameworks in place.
“We are here to build capacity among these women, helping them understand GBV, its causes, consequences, and how to provide support to survivors. We want them to become advocates and change agents in their homes and communities,” Olayinka said.
The training explored key issues including forms of GBV (physical, psychological, economic, sexual), the importance of women’s inclusion in decision-making, the roots of gender inequality, harmful cultural norms, and legal instruments such as the VAPP Act (2015), the Child Rights Act, and CEDAW.
Communication Manager at NWTF, Mujidat Agbabiaka-Sheleye, echoed the urgency of the mission. “Gender-based violence is a societal scourge, and we all must rise to fight it. Women and girls must not only be protected—they must be empowered to lead the fight,” she said.
Agbabiaka-Sheleye revealed that NWTF has trained and mentored over 800 women and girls across Nigeria to become GBV champions and community leaders, adding that more than 80 grassroots organisations have received funding to deepen anti-GBV campaigns nationwide.
She acknowledged efforts by the Nigerian government, particularly the passage of the VAPP Act, but stressed that more must be done to enforce existing laws and hold perpetrators accountable. “The law must be tested. The public must report GBV cases and ensure justice is pursued,” she urged.
Community leaders and participants hailed the initiative, pledging to replicate the knowledge gained. Ms. Roli Omotsola, Woman Leader of Ugbuwangue, and Mrs. Linda Ogbe expressed gratitude to OHHEI and NWTF, vowing to become torchbearers for change.
Mr. Solomon Ojobor, Vice Chairman of the community, said, “This training is a wake-up call for our women. We now have a task to protect our daughters and uplift the rights of every woman in Ugbuwangue.”
The event also drew participants from civil society and government, including representatives of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Warri, and local CSOs.
With initiatives like this, the campaign against GBV in Nigeria gains new momentum, turning communities into active partners in the fight for gender justice.
