The Federal Government, in collaboration with key stakeholders, is set to inaugurate a coordinated national effort to address the rising threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV).
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, announced this at a press briefing and orange lighting event in Abuja on Monday, marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism against GBV.
She warned that online abuses, including sextortion, digital romance scams, and threats to share intimate content, were causing severe emotional harm and, in some cases, fatalities.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, Nigeria Police, UN agencies, the UK-FCDO, and other development partners to tackle the menace.
“The initiative aims to produce a National Roadmap on TF-GBV to strengthen prevention, reporting, and accountability, enhance digital evidence handling, and ensure stronger protections for women and girls in an increasingly digital society.
“This roadmap, once implemented, will focus on prevention, reporting, accountability, digital evidence handling, and survivor protection.
“It highlights our urgent need to protect women and girls in a rapidly digitalising society,” she said.
She also revealed the inauguration of the Happy Woman App, a national driver of digital access and literacy, and a partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to advance cybersecurity professionalisation for women.
“Additionally, the National Boy Child Policy has been developed to support boys’ education, psychosocial development, and protection against violence.
“The National Child Policy has also been updated to address emerging risks, including digital exploitation, mental health challenges, climate stressors, and conflict-related vulnerabilities.”
Mr Koessan Kuawu, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, noted that adolescent girls face rising digital violence, with research showing 97 per cent of girls aged 11–16 in Nigeria experiencing unwanted sexual approaches online, and 89 per cent receiving sexual images or content.
“The 2024 NDHS also reports that 2 per cent of women aged 15–49—about 1.2 million women, have experienced TF-GBV.”
He reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collective action to end TF-GBV and promote safety by design in technology.
Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stressed the need to unite against all forms of violence, ensure legal frameworks were implemented, and expand awareness programmes for both women and men.
Thelma Ekiyor, CEO of Women for Women International, emphasised strengthening reporting frameworks and amplifying the voices of women and girls to ensure accessible avenues for reporting abuse.
Other activities include the orange lighting of the ministry’s headquarters and other national landmarks, symbolising a future free of violence, a sunrise of hope, and the energy of transformation.
