Lagos, Rivers, and Ekiti States have been ranked as the most responsive to gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria, according to the Womanity Index 2024.
The states emerged as leaders based on their performance across five key indices: laws and policies, access to legal justice, support services, information and awareness, and budget and spending.
The report, launched on Wednesday in Abuja by Invictus Africa, a civic organisation promoting human rights and gender equality through data-driven advocacy, revealed that 63% of Nigerians have either experienced GBV or know someone who has.
The most common forms of violence recorded were domestic and intimate partner violence, followed by physical violence, mental or emotional abuse, and sexual violence.
Speaking at the launch, the First Lady of Kwara State, Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, commended the report for its role in tracking progress and identifying gaps in the fight against GBV.
“Compared to last year’s report, I’m proud to see states moving from the red zone to the amber zone, showing that significant work is being done,” she said. “This data is critical as it helps us measure progress, identify challenges, and guide our efforts to address GBV effectively.”
Dr. Abdulrazaq stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders in compiling and utilising data. “Comprehensive data is essential. Organisations must work together and cross-reference findings to ensure accuracy and consistency,” she said.
She further assured that the Governors’ Wives Forum would work closely with the report to push for actionable change. “As chairpersons of sexual and gender-based violence committees in most states, first ladies will ensure these findings are shared and acted upon at the state level.”
The first lady concluded by saying that despite the representation in numbers, the focus should be on improving the lives and experiences behind the numbers and percentages.
The Executive Director of Invictus Africa, Bukky Shonibare, pointed out the need for Nigeria to invest in both national and state-level data to understand the complexity of GBV. According to her, the issues extend beyond the existence of laws to questions of enforcement, public awareness, and accessibility.
“When we talk about GBV, we must ask: Do the laws exist? Are they being enforced? Are people aware of them? And most importantly, are they leading to justice for survivors?” Shonibare said.
She highlighted additional barriers survivors face, such as inaccessible courts and inadequate legal aid, as well as gaps in support services, including a lack of sexual assault referral centres in many local governments. Public awareness, she noted, also remained a challenge, particularly among marginalised groups like persons with disabilities.
“Budget and spending are equally critical,” Shonibare added. “If we don’t allocate enough resources or spend them effectively, we’ll struggle to make meaningful progress.”
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