The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on traditional rulers to assume a stronger leadership role in the national fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), describing them as the “first line of defence” for victims.
She made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the National Convening of Traditional Leaders on GBV Prevention and Experience Sharing, held as part of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
According to a statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze, the minister described the presence of royal fathers at the event as momentous, noting that the country is in a time that demands clarity, courage, and resilience.
Addressing monarchs, elders, cultural custodians, civil society groups, and advocates, Sulaiman-Ibrahim painted a stark picture of Nigeria’s gender-based violence crisis. She cited national data showing that one in three Nigerian women will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime, with 70 percent of cases occurring in homes—often perpetrated by intimate partners or trusted individuals.
“We remember the lives lost. We honour survivors. And we reaffirm our commitment to a Nigeria where every woman and girl can live free from fear,” she said.
The minister highlighted key national milestones, including the domestication of the Child Rights Act in all 36 states and the FCT, as well as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in 35 states and the FCT, describing both laws as powerful protective tools.
However, she cautioned that legal frameworks alone cannot eliminate violence unless they are deeply rooted in community practices and cultural values.
“For legal frameworks to translate into protection, they must be embedded within our cultural norms,” she stressed.
