Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI), in partnership with Initiative for Community Development and Advancement of Social Orientation (ICODASO), with funding support from Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) under the project “Building Climate Security Resilience for Women of Cross River and Benue States of Nigeria,” commemorated the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with community-wide engagements across Cross River and Benue States.
As part of the activities, awareness road walks/rallies were conducted in Ikom (Cross River State) and Gboko (Benue State) to expand public understanding of digital violence, promote safer online behaviour, and mobilise collective action in local communities.
Town Hall Meeting in Ogoja, Cross River State
On 28th November 2025, a town hall meeting was held in Ogoja, bringing together representatives from government agencies, traditional councils, civil society organisations, the media, students, youths, and persons with disabilities to discuss gender safety and access to justice in the digital age.
Goodwill messages were delivered by:
- The Women Development Officer, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, who reaffirmed government commitment to promoting gender equality and protecting women’s rights.
- The Leader of Council, representing the Chairman of Ogoja LGA, who encouraged community-wide action to end gender-based violence.
- A Media Representative, who pledged to amplify survivor voices and promote responsible digital citizenship.
A panel session addressed:
- Digital violence in schools and communities
- Digital safety for women and girls
- Strengthening support systems for survivors
The meeting ended with a commitment pledge to promote digital safety, end gender inequality, and foster a safer society.
Town Hall Meeting in Makurdi, Benue State
The Makurdi town hall meeting placed a special focus on the experiences of persons with disabilities in digital spaces. Stakeholders discussed key issues affecting online safety and digital inclusion.
Speakers included:
- The Gender Desk Officer, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, who emphasized that more work is still required despite 25 years of the global campaign.
- A Coordinator from the Benue CSO Network, who stressed the importance of inclusive digital policies.
- The PWD Coordinator in Benue, who called for stronger protection and support for PWDs online.
Key issues discussed:
- Rising digital violence targeting women and girls
- Digital illiteracy and its role in exacerbating online vulnerability
- Parental involvement in shaping responsible online behaviour
- Gaps and weaknesses in accountability for digital offenders
Way Forward:
- Strengthen digital literacy programmes for young people, PWDs, and communities
- Engage parents and guardians in awareness efforts
- Improve accountability mechanisms for online offenders
- Enhance collaboration among stakeholders to build safer and more inclusive digital spaces
The meeting concluded with a pledge of commitment to digital safety and justice.
