In a significant step towards promoting gender equality and preventing gender-based violence (GBV), the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) organised a capacity building for Women Rights Organisations, aimed at engaging male allies under the Male Feminists Network (MFN) project.
The MFN project, a two-year national initiative implemented by Centre LSD with funding support from the Ford Foundation, aims to mobilise men to confront other men, challenge harmful masculinities, and use their privileges to advance gender justice.
In a two-day convention tagged: “Capacity Building for Women’s Rights Organisations on Engaging Male Allies,” the convening brought together women-led and feminist organisations, from across Nigeria to deepen collective capacity for engaging male allies in ways that are feminist informed, accountable and supportive of women’s leadership.
In a welcome remark, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Mr. Monday Osasah emphasized that, “The Male Feminists Network (MFN) Project, under which this program is organized, seeks to promote feminist principles, challenge toxic masculinity, and support women’s rights by engaging men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence. It is grounded in the understanding that feminism is a human issue one that is deeply connected to justice, dignity, and human rights for all.”
He stated that, “At the same time, we recognize that engaging men is not without risk. Experience has shown us that male allyship can sometimes reproduce the very power imbalances it seeks to dismantle. That makes this convening an honest space for reflection and strategic clarity.”
According to Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Project Director of Male Feminists Network (MFN), the initiative is designed to support women’s movements, not replace them. “Patriarchy is largely produced, enforced, and defended within male-dominated systems. It cannot be dismantled without men changing their beliefs, behaviours, and use of power,” he emphasized.
The project has recorded significant milestones, including the development of a national training manual on Male Feminism in Support of GBV Prevention in Nigeria and the launch of the world’s first online course dedicated exclusively to Male Feminism and GBV prevention. The course has attracted 8,552 participants, with 3,150 Nigerians successfully completing it and earning certification.
These certified participants are not just learning; they are taking action, leading conversations in their communities, challenging harmful gender norms, and supporting women’s rights initiatives. The project is contributing to a visible shift in attitudes toward feminism, particularly among men who previously viewed it as anti-male.
The MFN project will continue to expand digital learning, deepen engagement with traditional and religious leaders, and intensify policy advocacy on GBV prevention and gender equality.
“The Male Feminists Network is not about creating heroes. It is about producing responsible partners committed to ending violence and inequality,” Igbuzor noted.
The project is a bold step towards dismantling patriarchal norms and building a generation of male allies committed to social justice. With the support of the Ford Foundation and six zonal partners across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the MFN project is poised to make a lasting impact in the fight against GBV and the promotion of gender equality.