News
16 Days of Activism against GBV: NGO canvasses for women, girls’ safety
The Founder/Executive Director,
Noble Vessels Arise Initiative (NOVAI), Mrs Chioma Elezieanya, has demanded the call to action for Nigeria to move from awareness to sustained investment in digital safety for women and girls.
Elezieanya said the rise of digital violence, cyberbullying, non-consensual image sharing and online harassment have added new dimensions to the crisis affecting young girls.
According to her, Gender-Based Violence remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations in Nigeria with available national surveys and reports continue to show alarming trends.
The NOVAI boss said, “Data shows that 31% of Nigerian women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence at some point in their lives. 1 in 3 girls experience at least one form of violence before age 18.
“Millions of cases go unreported due to stigma, fear, cultural silence, and weak support systems. Emotional, psychological, and economic violence remain highly prevalent but are rarely documented or addressed.
“The FCT and several states continue to record thousands of GBV cases every year through hospitals, police units, and social welfare systems, yet these figures represent only a fraction of the actual burden.
“These statistics remind us that GBV is not a women’s issue alone; it is a national development issue. It undermines education, public health, productivity and the safety of communities.”
In line with the 16 Days of Activism 2025, Elezieanya said her organisation will conduct school awareness campaigns across the FCT and neighbouring communities; strengthen safe-space mentorship program for adolescent girls; train student leaders on peer education, consent and reporting pathways; amplify survivor support information and referral services; advocate for the full implementation of the VAPP Act in states where it has been passed and also engage teachers, parents and traditional institutions on child protection and GBV prevention.
To curb the the act of GBV, she urged the government to increase budgetary allocations for GBV prevention programs at federal and state levels and establish more shelters, one-stop GBV response centres, and functional hotlines.
Elezieanya also called for full implementation of the VAPP Act, Child Rights Act and disability-inclusive GBV policies nationwide as well as prioritising digital safety and online protection for children and adolescents.
“As we commemorate the 2025 16 Days of Activism, let us remember that violence against women and girls is not inevitable, it is preventable. It requires all of us. It requires courage. It requires commitment. And above all, it requires sustained investment.
“Noble Vessels Arise Initiative stands firm in its mission to protect, empower, and uplift girls and women. With collaboration, we can build a Nigeria where every girl is safe, valued, and free to rise,” Elezieanya concluded.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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