The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has urged men to advocate for gender equity and to recognise women as partners, rather than problems, to combat gender-based violence in Nigeria.

The vice national president of FIDA, Eliana Martins, made the call on Friday in Ikeja at the “Second Bi-Annual Shared Learning Forum for Men Promoting Gender Justice”, supported by the Ford Foundation.

In her welcome address, Ms Martins described the forum as a platform for men to exchange experiences and share strategies for gender-based violence (GBV) prevention.

She noted that this would also facilitate collaboration among men who shared a commitment to ending GBV.

Ms Martins said that by working together, men and women could promote gender-sensitive and protective communities, ultimately reducing GBV and promoting gender equality.

According to her, GBV remains a pervasive issue in Africa, with deep roots in cultural and traditional values.

Ms Martins said, “Women are often blamed for issues like childlessness, denied economic rights and family inheritances.

“Early and forced marriage is also a significant problem, with parents coercing their daughters into marriage before the age of 18.

“This shared learning forum aims to engage men in promoting gender equality and preventing GBV.

“By creating a counter-narrative against the patriarchal system, this forum seeks to enhance awareness on women’s rights and protection and enable men to become champions for gender justice.”

Philomena Nneji, the national financial secretary of FIDA, said GBV is deeply rooted in some cultural norms and values in Nigeria.

Ms Nneji noted that men’s participation in the forum would drive home the point, as they would return to their respective communities to educate other men.

The chairperson of FIDA, Ikeja branch, Veronica Eze, also stated that progress had been made in terms of engaging men to curb gender-based violence.

According to Ms Eze, with continuous awareness against GBV, more men would change their orientation and begin to see women as partners rather than tools used to showcase their masculinity against the opposite sex.

The former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch, Bayo Akinlade, urged men to return to their communities and educate their fellow men on preventing gender-based violence.

Mr Akinlade also emphasised the need to include women in politics to achieve balanced and equal representation in governance.

The event’s facilitator, Oluwafemi Abe, emphasised that men should see themselves as partners with women in the fight against gender-based violence.

“Men can use their masculinity positively to combat GBV, rather than being seen as part of the problem,” Mr Abe advised.

One of the participants at the event, Azeez Hamzat, thanked the organisers for inviting community men in leadership positions to the forum.

(NAN)