My people, Naija don spark some serious gist as African traditional leaders, policy makers and development partners converge for one big conference wey dey happen for Lagos! Dem dey work on how to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) across Africa, and you know say this matter no be small pikin play! This conference wey dem call Conference of African Traditional and Cultural Leaders on GBV Prevention no just be ordinary meeting; e dey hold on top grounds wey culture and community leadership go shine like new Naira notes.
Na from February 2 to 3, 2026, dem gather for Ikeja, and e be like say serious commitments don drop as dem set plans wey go center traditional leadership to promote protection and justice. Lagoo governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and big men like Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi dey for ground to show support, no be joke oh!
The conference wey organized by Ford Foundation and UN Women alongside Naija government, dey align with matter wey concern community leaders to make serious changes. As the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi talk, gbam! He say, “Silence about GBV no go fit hold again; change don need to be intentional.” Meaning say Naija and Africa future dey depend on strong laws wey dey protect and nurture our communities instead of wahala!
Ford Foundation President, Heather Gerken, don also talk say we need to ground our progress inside our culture. She emphasize say even though women for Africa dey face wahala, our potential to create change dey plenty too. The Governor and the traditional leaders wey gather no fit dey play small! They dey push for protective laws and social changes like no tomorrow.
For the conference, UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, don subtly caution say some practices wey e fit call marriage dey turn to sexual abuse for girls. She talk say GBV no be the root problem, na just one clear sign wey show say we need to affirm the norms wey go ensure equality and justice for all. Mmm, truth dey sweet but e dey painful.
Maxime Houinato from UN Women also talk say traditional and cultural leaders no fit play small if we wan make real change. He dey believe say when cultural authority align with justice, communities go fit become safer. And Chichi Aniagolu wey dey represent Ford Foundation, come remind everybody say “Culture no dey static; e dey dynamic!” Na so we go fit reshape our values without losing authority.
The Emir of Shonga, Haliru Ndanusa, remind dem say religious grounds no fit be excuse for violence! He clarify say Sharia no go support harmful practices. Na here we sabi say community leaders fit hold powerful sway, and their voice fit create transformation.
The conference go round up with discussion about catching bigger plans wey go involve everybody: traditional leaders, communities, and even local governments, to stop GBV from the roots. Na this synergy go help us build a society wey no only dey survive but dey flourish!
As we dey look towards the future, make we remember say the leaders wey dey champion this cause for GBV no dey dupe us; dem serious about making sure say our communities dey safe. Na so e go be for Africa, we go unite against this injustice and make some noise!
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