Bukky Shonibare is the founder of Invictus Africa, an organization dedicated to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria. In this article, we will explore the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s fight against GBV, using data as a key tool for understanding progress and identifying areas for improvement.

The Data Gap

The lack of reliable and comprehensive data on GBV in Nigeria is a significant obstacle in the fight against this scourge. Data is essential for addressing GBV, as it sheds light on the extent of the problem, highlights gaps in response mechanisms, and encourages accountability across government, civil society, law enforcement, and other relevant actors.

• Without reliable and comprehensive data, interventions may be poorly targeted, resources inadequately allocated, and progress challenging to measure.
• Data is essential for understanding the scope of the problem, highlighting gaps in response mechanisms, and encouraging accountability.

A New Approach to Data Collection

Invictus Africa’s annual Womanity Index addresses the data gap by collecting, analyzing, and using data to assess governments’ efforts on effective GBV prevention and response through 18 indicators across five indices.

1. Laws and policies
2. Access to justice
3. Support services
4. Information and awareness
5. Budget allocation and spending

The data for this annual study is collected by a network of local researchers based across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This localized approach is effective because it captures nuanced, context-specific data, providing a more accurate representation of the situation on the ground.

Key Findings

The 2024 Womanity Index reveals both progress and persistent gaps in GBV responses at state level. The most prevalent form of GBV is domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV) at 46%, followed by physical violence (41%), mental and emotional violence (35%), sexual violence (33%), economic violence (25%), and harmful traditional and religious practices (11%).

Progress and Gaps

Several states have made some strides in advancing progressive public policies to address GBV, educating their communities, allocating budgetary resources, and ensuring legal justice to survivors of GBV.

For instance, Katsina adopted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and established a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC); Abia’s Ministry of Women Affairs adopted Invictus Africa’s GBV-responsive budget template; Taraba established a family court; Akwa Ibom and Yobe simplified their VAPP Law, translating it into local languages to enhance public understanding and implementation at the grassroots level; Kano introduced GBV mobile courts with six GBV-designated judges, and added a budget line for GBV in its 2025 state budget; and Niger expanded its GBV response by adding two SARCs and introducing a dedicated GBV budget line.

A Regionally Consistent Approach

Regionally, none of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria achieved the blue or red grade; while only two (south-south and south-west) are graded green, the remaining four (north central, north-east, north-west, and south-east) are rated amber.

Challenges and Opportunities

The 2024 Womanity Index report highlights several challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s fight against GBV. While some states have made progress in advancing progressive public policies, others are lagging behind, with many states remaining in the “red” category.

Efforts to combat GBV require a multi-faceted and collaborative approach. Governments must invest in standardized data collection, strengthen partnerships with civil society, and allocate sufficient resources for survivor support services.

A Call to Action

Localized and context-specific data remains essential for understanding the realities of GBV and shaping targeted, effective interventions.