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16 Days of Activism against GBV: NGO canvasses for women, girls’ safety

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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.

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

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Joel Ajayi

 The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.


He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.


According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.


“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.


The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.


“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said. 


Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said. 


He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media. 


He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.


According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.


Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs. 


He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.


We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.


The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.


He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.


Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself. 


He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.


“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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