Ado-Ekiti, Sept. 30, 2025,
A university don, Prof. Christopher Oluwadare has advocated the need for the two opposite gender to work in partnership with each other to vanish gender-based violence among Nigerians.
This is just as a a Civil a society Organisation, (CSO), Male Feminist Network, (MFN), affirmed that everything humanly possible would be evolved in changing the tide.
The project, spearheaded by the African Centre For Leadership, Strategy and Development in Nigeria, through the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD, and supported by the Ford Foundation, says a total of 1,000 male persons are to be trained for the purpose, in all the six geo political zones of the country.
According to Prof Oluwadare, a professor of Medical Sociology at the Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), who spoke yesterday at a media conference in Ado-Ekiti, the time had come for everyone to engage in network building of make feminists, in support of gender based violence prevention in the country.
He said the menfolk cannot afford to sit back, and watch the other side of the gender cycle to face struggles and challenges that should have ordinarily been complemented by men, so that the society can witness a more harmonious relationship.
” From time immemorial, the issue around Gender Based Violence, GBV and gender equality in Nigeria has been driven largely by women, but unfortunately, transformative chain demands that men too not only listen and watch
” This time around, it is no doubt a conviction that men too must by unconditional allies, even advocates, and effective participants in the movement for the gender justice”, he said
Speaking, the NSID Programme officer, Mr ThankGod Ochai, said the NISD project, sought to strengthen male allyship, in advancing gender equality and combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
He maintained that the overall goal of the project was to build a nationwide movement where men, across Nigeria, actively challenged gender-based violence, and support women’s rights.
He added that part of the goals, is also to contribute to a transformed gender norms, increased institutional accountability, and a more inclusive, equitable society, where women and girls can thrive.
He said MFN would provide an opportunity to present the project’s achievements, highlight its integration into state gender policies, and strengthen collaboration with
stakeholders in the fight against GBV.
He explained that strategies to be deployed, would include: strong awareness campaigns, using traditional and digits media to challenge a sorts of toxic masculinity, and promote inclusive gender narratives across the country.
” The MFN aimed to disrupt patriarchal systems and challenge harmful norms, by training 1,000 make leaders, professionals, and grassroot influencers across all the six geo-poli zones of Nigeria.
” We are doing this, so that men, rather than remaining silent bystanders, will be equipped to the extent of being able to advocate for feminist values, and lead by example, in their communities.
” We also expect that male feminists should support women’s economic empowerment, by promoting equal access to education, employment, political representations and resources, challenge harmful masculinity, and also promote healthy, equitable relationships between men and women”, he added.
