Center trains 20 young women on GBV prevention

The Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CEPASD), with support from the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), has trained 20 young women in leadership and advocacy as part of the “Women Leading Change: Building Young Women Leaders for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Project” in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The leadership and advocacy training […]

The Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CEPASD), with support from the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), has trained 20 young women in leadership and advocacy as part of the “Women Leading Change: Building Young Women Leaders for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Project” in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The leadership and advocacy training is aimed at strengthening women’s leadership capacity, amplifying their voices, and advancing efforts to end gender-based violence across the FCT.

Gender-based violence remains a persistent challenge in communities within the FCT, including Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Kwali, where women and girls continue to face domestic violence, sexual abuse and harmful social norms that restrict access to justice and protection.

The Women Leading Change project responds to these challenges by equipping young women with leadership, advocacy and digital skills needed to drive community-level action for GBV prevention.

Through a competitive selection process that attracted over 500 applications, 20 young women leaders were selected to participate in the training. The programme is designed to build participants’ leadership confidence, advocacy competence and understanding of GBV prevention frameworks, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act).

Speaking at the opening of the training, the Executive Director of CEPASD, Augustine Igweshi, said empowering young women is critical to achieving sustainable solutions to gender-based violence.

According to him, harmful social norms often silence survivors and limit access to justice, leading to widespread underreporting of GBV cases due to fear, stigma and weak community accountability structures.

“Ending gender-based violence requires strong, informed and visible women leaders at the community level,” Igweshi said. “Through this training, we are equipping young women in the FCT with the skills and platforms they need to challenge harmful norms, amplify survivor-centred narratives and promote accountability.

“Over the next four months, we will work closely with these participants to contribute meaningfully to GBV prevention in the FCT. This initiative goes beyond dialogue. Following this training, participants will produce advocacy videos and lead online advocacy campaigns to amplify survivors’ voices, strengthen community awareness and promote accountability.”

He added that the organisation believes informed community advocates can integrate their learning into society and inspire other women to speak up and demand change.

Also speaking, the Digital and Innovation Coordinator of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Ado Innocent, said the training was designed to strengthen women’s voices in leadership while equipping participants with skills to drive community-based efforts to end gender-based violence in Nigeria.

“Nigerian Women Trust Fund is pleased to be part of this initiative,” Innocent said. “We look forward to an impactful training session and to raising young women who will become generational leaders addressing issues of gender-based violence.

“We hope to see a society where women are free to be human, fully express their potential, and actively participate in national development. We also envision an inclusive society where men and women work together to drive progress.”

Following the training, participants are expected to implement a two-month online advocacy campaign on GBV, using digital platforms to raise awareness, promote women’s rights and encourage reporting and community accountability.

CEPASD reaffirmed its commitment to working with young women, civil society organisations and community stakeholders to advance peace, gender equality and sustainable development across Nigeria.