Stakeholders in Nigeria’s gender and digital rights ecosystem have called for stronger legal frameworks, improved collaboration, increased digital literacy and sustained public sensitisation to curb rising incidents of digital gender-based violence (DGBV) in the country.
Speaking at a high-level breakfast dialogue and policy roundtable in Abuja, an event aimed at promoting survivor-centred justice, pushing for legal reforms and strengthening awareness of rights and justice pathways, the Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, said online engagement had become unavoidable, making digital safety an urgent necessity.
“Because our lives are online, you can’t say I’m going to avoid the Internet, you have to engage. And in the process of engaging, you find out that you have to think about your safety,” she said.
Recalling a research study on rape in crisis settings, she described the traumatic experiences of survivors in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, stressing the need for empathy.
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During a fireside chat, Olusegun Medupin of Youth Hub Africa identified critical gaps in the legal and institutional response, particularly within the VAPP Act.
He warned about the dangers of AI-generated harmful content and pledged civil society action:
“Our organisation has a formidable online audience and we will ensure that key messages reach them around access and safety online.”
On collaboration, Mrs. Evelyn Madu of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development emphasised sustained public education.
From Tech-Her Africa, Peter Akinosi stressed the need for intentional design, digital literacy and forward-thinking regulation.
Media practitioner Glory Ohagwu highlighted the role of journalists in reshaping online safety culture.
Participants agreed on key takeaways, including early education on consent and boundaries, bringing men into prevention efforts, demanding accountability, equipping girls with information and driving community-level change consistently.
The Open Town Hall conversation formed part of the Post-Gender and Inclusion Summit 2025, organised by the Policy Innovation Centre to commemorate the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, themed “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
