News Investigators/ Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a public sin and a violation of God’s image in humanity, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Didi Walson-Jack, has said.
Mrs Walson-Jack made this statement in a keynote address at the Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative (ACADI) stakeholders’ dialogue on “Gender Based Violence Prevention in Faith Based Spaces: Changing the Narrative” in Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Dr Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, urged the church to create “safe sanctuaries” where survivors of GBV can find safety, not silenced.
She explained that faith communities are not immune to GBV, noting the grim global statistic that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, often by someone she knows.
She condemned the practice where survivors are often told to “pray harder, endure for the sake of the family, or forgive and forget”, stating that misinterpretations of scripture are sometimes used to justify harm.
“Let us be clear. Gender-based violence is not a private matter. It is a public sin. It is not cultural. It is immoral. It is not the will of God. It is a violation of His image in humanity,” she said.
To “change the narrative,” the HOCSF called on the church to reclaim the true message of the Gospel, a message of love, justice, equality, and dignity for all, citing Genesis 1:27 which declares that mankind was created in God’s image, male and female.
She reminded the gathering that Christ Himself honoured women by defending the woman caught in adultery and entrusting the message of the resurrection to Mary Magdalene.
She called for the empowerment of women and youth, adding hat women must be recognised as leaders and interpreters of scripture.
She also tasked the church of teaching young men that true masculinity is not dominance, but service and respect.
She encouraged the promotion of education and awareness through discussions on consent, healthy relationships, and mutual respect as part of Christian formation.
Mrs Walson-Jack commended ACADI activity which is supported by the Ford Foundation, urged faith-based organisations to build partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and traditional institutions to strengthen awareness campaigns and advocate for survivor-centred policies.
“Preventing gender-based violence in the faith-based space is not optional. It is a moral and spiritual necessity.”
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, acknowledged the growing concerns of gender-based violence in society.
The Primate, who was represented by Bishop Blessing Enyindah, the Anglican Bishop of Ikwerre, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province and Dean of the Church, emphasised the Church’s commitment to speaking out against this issue.
“The Church realised that we should do something. We should not be silent about it. We should speak against it.
“The Church has established an organisation to educate people on gender-based violence and its effects.
“The Church aims to address the root causes of violence and promote prevention,” he said.
Ndukuba added that gender-based violence is not acceptable and that the Church must take a stand against it.
According to him, the Church of Nigeria is working to raise awareness and promote education on gender-based violence.
“By speaking out against this issue, the Church aims to create a safer and more just society for all.”
Dr Chichi Aniagolu, the Ford Foundation West Africa Coordination, a key funder of the initiative, explained that the dialogue is necessary considering the issue at stake.
She argued that without changing the mindset of those involved, even formal response systems like the police remain ineffective.
“If you’re a woman and you go to report, the policeman will ask you, ‘what are you you doing here?’ So even the policeman who’s paid to protect you does not see it as his role,” she noted.
Outlining the operational framework, the National Coordinator for ACADI, Mr Abiodun Ipinmoye, said that the initiative’s goals is to break the culture of silence and ensure perpetrator accountability.
“Sometimes we say, ‘okay, forgiveness over justice.’ But we are saying more than that.
“We are going into the fact that the perpetrator must not be left at large. Survivors must be heard whatever the rank or the role of the person in the church, there must be documents that say this must be how perpetrators must be treated.
He also announced plans to create “safe spaces” within churches for immediate victim support.
The Chairman of ACADI’s Governing Council, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, stressed the importance of involving children and youth in the initiative, as evidenced by student debates at the event.
“When we are talking about gender-based violence, one of the things to realise is that no one develops the attitude when he’s an adult. Attitudes are formed as we are growing up.
“If we are going to change tomorrow, the way to do it is to begin to invest in children of today so that they grow with the right value. They are sustainable sources that will truly take us to the future we desire,” he said.
The dialogue culminated in a unified commitment from faith leaders, civil society, and development partners to transform Nigeria’s faith-based spaces into sanctuaries of safety, dignity, and love for all.
NAN
