GBV: Sanwo-Olu calls for culture-led action to tackle menace

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday, called for culture-led action to combat gender-based violence (GBV) urging traditional leaders to confront its harmful practices, often shielded by silence.
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Sanwo-Olu made this known at the Conference of African Traditional and Cultural Leaders on Gender Based Violence Prevention, jointly organised by the Ford Foundation and UN Women.

The conference held in Lagos, had the theme, “Driving Norms Change and Gender-Based Violence Prevention through Cultural Custodianship”.

The governor who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said GBV has no place in Africa’s past, present or future.

He described the menace as “one of the most destructive challenges confronting societies,” noting that it robs victims of dignity, security and opportunity.

“It weakens families, fractures communities and undermines sustainable development,” he said

According to him, when traditional leaders confront these harmful practices, it sends a powerful message that silence is no longer acceptable and that change must be intentional.

According to Sanwo-Olu, women and girls bear a disproportionate burden of GBV, particularly domestic and sexual abuse.

He, however, noted that men and boys were often victims of abuse, coercion and emotional harm, who suffer these ill in silence.

Sanwo-Olu described traditional leaders as custodians of values who emphasise dignity, responsibility, mutual respect and communal care, adding that such values do not support violence but demand accountability, uphold justice and protect the vulnerable.

The governor said Lagos State has responded through policies, laws and institutions, including the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency.

He noted that laws alone cannot change culture, adding that there is the need for partnership with traditional institutions.

According to him, Africa’s future depends on safe homes, just communities and cultures that nurture rather than harm.

In her remarks, President of the Ford Foundation, Heather Gerken said traditional leaders play a “unique and irreplaceable” role in ending harmful practices.

“When traditional leaders speak against harmful practices, you reshape values and change lives in ways that no law could ever do,” she said.

She cited reforms ending child marriage, harmful inheritance practices and female genital mutilation as evidence of cultural leadership.

She said that these reforms did not weaken tradition but strengthened it by restoring its moral core.

Gerken said while laws are essential, they must deliver the protections they promise, adding that traditional leaders influence homes and communities beyond the reach of policy.

Also speaking, the UN Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr Maxime Houinato, said the conference showed how culture and institutions could drive social change to advance gender equality.

Houinato said since 2018, traditional leaders had worked through the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa (COTLA) to challenge discriminatory norms.

Our correspondent reports that COTLA is a pan-African movement of traditional leaders committed to ending harmful practices including child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other forms of violence against women and girls.

It promotes gender equality in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Houinato said gender-based violence was “not the root problem, but one of the clearest symptoms” of inequality and injustice.

According to him, when cultural authority aligns with justice, dignity and equality, communities become safer and institutions gain trust.

“UN Women, Ford Foundation and Nigeria are working with traditional leaders to dismantle harmful practices such as degrading widowhood rites and child marriage.

“Stronger democracies are built when justice is trusted and norms affirm dignity for all and UN Women is proud to work with Africa’s traditional leaders to help shape fairer, safer and more prosperous societies,” she said

In the same vein, the Emir of Shonga and Convener General, of COTLA, Dr Haliu Yahaya Ndanusa, said culture must never be used to justify harm.

According to him, culture should be a force that protects dignity, promotes justice, and ensures the safety and wellbeing of women and girls.

He said COTLA recognises that traditional leaders are custodians of culture and values and consequently, play a critical role in shaping social norms, influencing behaviour, and promoting accountability within communities.

“As traditional leaders, we cannot remain bystanders; Our authority, influence, and close connection to our communities places a clear responsibility on us to speak out and to act,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that the conference brought together traditional leaders from across Africa including the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Queen Mother Dora Nana Adjoa Awindo of Afigya Kwabre, Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I, among other dignitaries.