ADO-EKITI, EKITI STATE — In a powerful demonstration of collective resolve against societal violence, the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Ekiti State Chapter, actively participated in the State Mega Sensitization Walk to commemorate the 2025 “16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence.”
The vital advocacy event was jointly organized by the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence Management Committee and led by its Chairperson, the First Lady of Ekiti State, Professor Olayemi Oyebanji. The massive turnout underscored the critical partnership between professional bodies, civil society, and state government leadership in combating the persistent scourge of GBV.
Uniting Against Violence: The Call to Action
The annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, held between November 25th and December 10th globally, serves as a crucial period for heightened awareness and policy advocacy. The Ekiti State sensitization walk, echoing the global UN theme, mobilized stakeholders under the local banner #Unite!, calling for immediate and widespread collaboration to protect women and girls.
A core focus of this year’s advocacy was the specific threat posed by technological advancements, highlighted by the accompanying hashtag #enddigitalviolence. Participants emphasized the growing menace of online harassment, cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and other digital platforms used to perpetrate GBV, noting the need for robust legal and digital literacy strategies to protect victims.
The Role of the Legal Profession
The active involvement of the NBAWF, Ekiti State, reinforced the commitment of female lawyers to legal reform and effective implementation of GBV protection laws already in place in Ekiti State.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, a representative from the NBAWF highlighted that their participation goes beyond sensitization. It is a pledge to provide pro bono legal support, advocate for the swift prosecution of offenders, and work with the Gender Based Violence Management Committee to strengthen institutional responses to abuse.
“The Bar must lead the charge against injustice. Our presence here signifies that Ekiti lawyers are not just interpreters of law, but active agents of social change, ensuring that perpetrators of all forms of violence, especially digital, are brought to book,” stated an NBAWF official.
The leadership of Professor Oyebanji on the GBV Management Committee was widely applauded for providing the necessary political will and framework to coordinate multi-sectoral efforts, from health and social services to law enforcement and the judiciary.
The successful mega walk concluded with renewed pledges from all participants to carry the message of ending GBV beyond the 16-day campaign, fostering a sustained culture of zero tolerance for violence in homes, schools, workplaces, and digital spaces across Ekiti State.
#NBAWF, #EkitiState, #GenderBasedViolence, #16DaysOfActivism, #enddigitalviolence, #ProfOlayemiOyebanji, #LegalAdvocacy, #UniteAgainstGBV
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