To end gender-based violence start by including more women in politics. Women make up half of Nigeria's population, but they have never held more than 15 per cent of elective offices. There has never even been a female governor or president in Nigeria.
Globally, gender-based violence (GBV) is a persistent problem, and women and girls remain particularly vulnerable to its various forms. In 2021, with a 33 per cent rate, sub-Saharan Africa was among the two regions with the highest cases of intimate partner violence. Between January and April this year, 335 GBV cases were reported nationwide in Nigeria, but Lagos State alone recorded 4,351 cases between January and November. For a crime that is egregiously underreported and often handled poorly, these numbers are concerning.
There are efforts being made by the government, civil society organizations and active bystanders to end GBV in Nigeria, but they are not enough. Nigeria requires a stronger focus on creating and upholding legal frameworks against GBV that can be facilitated by political will and the increased inclusion of women in political positions...
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