Ford Foundation-sponsored project equip 20 male allies with positive masculinity against GBV in Anambra

By Ogemdi Ozoemenam, Awka

No fewer than 20 male allies have been trained on gender equality and prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria to enable them imbibe positive masculinity to curb gender based violence in Anambra State.

The two-day training sought to strengthen the capacity of men and male youth leaders to enhance positive masculinity, human rights, and non-violent norms within their communities, while equipping them with practical skills to cascade these messages through faith and cultural networks.

The training followed a research conducted by Gender Perspective & Social Development Centre (GPSDC), wherein Nibo and Nkpor communities in Awka South and Idemili North council areas respectively, were found to have the highest cases of gender based violence in the state.

To this end, GPSDC with support from Women Aid Collective (WACOL) gathered gathered 20 men and male ally of the two communities to discuss the matter and proffer community-based action plans for sustained engagement to curtail GBV within their domains.

Declaring the two-days event open in Nibo, the Programme Manager WACOL, Mr Emmanuel Ubajekwe, said the event leveraged on positive masculinity, designed to change narratives around male superiority and teach men to see women as equals.

According to him, the ultimate goal is to reduce GBV by fostering mutual love and respect, thereby creating a more equitable society, stressing that changing men’s attitudes and promoting mutual respect are crucial for reducing GBV.

While advocating for increased awareness about the existence and impact of gender-based violence, Mr Ubajekwe encouraged women to openly declare their intentions for leadership positions in communities and churches.

Ubajekwe said this is why WACOL being funded by Ford Foundation, is empowering Christian women and women leaders of culture in Nigeria to take up leadership roles.

“The two-year project, which has sub granted to various Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) and Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), aims to encourage women to take up leadership positions in their communities and churches. Now approaching its second year, the project has seen significant success, with many women becoming more responsive and openly seeking leadership roles.

“The project operates across all six geopolitical zones including states like Anambra, Enugu, Gombe, Bauchi, Lagos, Delta and Abuja, and is nearing the end of its first year. The second year of the project will be commencing from June and running through July 2027.

“WACOL has been advocating for gender equality, women’s rights, social justice, and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) for over 30 years. Its founding director is Prof. Ngozi Ezeilo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Life Bencher,” he said.

Mr Ubajekwe further acknowledged his mentor, Mrs Eucharia Anekwe, the executive director of Gender Perspective and Social Development Center, as a key figure in the fight against GBV in Anambra state.

On her part, the Executive Director GPSDC, Mrs Eucharia Anekwe said the insight was the significant knowledge gap among participants, particularly community leaders, who previously had a narrow understanding of GBV, often thinking it was limited to physical violence like beating or rape.

She noted that the session highlighted the necessity of male support in patriarchal societies and celebrated the increased knowledge and commitment of the participants, especially the youth, to champion these changes in their communities.

According to her, action plans for the project are to “Gather support from male allies, including men and youths, to back the women’s agenda against GBV.

“Promote the mitigation of GBV through sensitization and response strategies in the two target communities.

“Discuss and promote the concept of positive masculinity as an alternative to patriarchal norms.

“Continue to educate community members on the broader definitions of GBV, including intimate partner violence and rights for persons with disability.

“Leverage the enthusiasm of youth participants to lead change within their communities and follow up on the strategies and findings developed by the community members during the sessions,” Mrs Anekwe concluded.

The facilitator, Dr Julius Nwosu, Health Communication expert from Mass Communication Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, presented two papers titled “Understanding Gender, Power Dynamics, Masculinity and Human Rights,” and “Exploring Positive Masculinity and Christian Perspectives on Equality”. The two papers sought to shift male attitudes, build allyship and confront patriarchal norms while establishing how faith values promote justice, dignity and protection.

Also Speaking, another facilitator Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, spoke on “Survivor-Centred Approaches & Men’s Role in Protection” with particular reference to empathy, confidentiality and ethics.

Some of the participants, the former Secretary Nkpor Youths, Chibuzor Onyebuchi and member Nibo Council of Chiefs, Chief Emma Anizoba described the training as greatly rewarding and identified various ways they will step down the training to their communities with a view to bringing the incidents of GBV to the bearest minimum in their domains.

The project title for the two day event was “Empowering Christian Women and Women Leaders of culture for prevention and response to Gender-Based Violence in through the strengthening of grassroots organisations”.###