African traditional and cultural leaders have committed to scaling up efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) across the continent, a resolve formalised at a high-level conference in Lagos.
The Conference of African Traditional and Cultural Leaders on GBV Prevention, held on Monday, was convened by the Ford Foundation and UN Women in partnership with the Government of Nigeria. Attendees included monarchs, policymakers, development partners, and civil society representatives who focused on community-driven solutions.
The conference proceedings were grounded in the consensus that sustainable GBV prevention must be integrated within existing cultural systems and traditional institutions, as these are primary shapers of social norms in many African communities.
Representing the Lagos State Governor, Commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi characterised gender-based violence as a major social crisis demanding urgent action. He asserted that silence perpetuates abuse and called for the establishment of protective laws and community structures.
Heather Gerken, President of the Ford Foundation, highlighted the necessity of engaging traditional and faith institutions as pivotal agents for dismantling harmful practices and advancing women’s and girls’ rights. Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, warned that many practices masquerading as tradition constitute abuse. She framed GBV as a symptom of entrenched structural inequalities requiring robust institutions that guarantee justice and equality.
Dr. Maxime Houinato, UN Women’s Regional Director for Africa, noted that traditional leaders are central architects of social order. Their alignment with principles of equality can directly enhance community safety. Dr. Chichi Aniagolu of the Ford Foundation contended that efforts to eradicate harmful practices ultimately reinforce, rather than undermine, authentic traditional authority by reclaiming its positive essence.
The Emir of Shonga, HRH Alhaji Dr. Haliru Yahaya Ndanusa, cautioned against the distortion of religion to justify violence, stating that any harmful action contradicts core religious tenets. Mohamed Fall, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, urged traditional rulers to leverage their moral authority to champion dignity and justice, thereby transforming communities.
The conference, which included the Ooni of Ife, the Emir of Fika, the Emir of Shonga, and Chief Siansali of Zimbabwe, is slated to conclude with a Regional Declaration and Communiqué. This document will outline collective commitments to end GBV, supported by a Sustainability Roadmap designed to embed traditional leadership into long-term national and regional prevention strategies.
The anticipated outcomes aim to forge stronger partnerships between traditional institutions, governments, the African Union, and civil society. This collaboration is expected to enhance survivor-centred support systems at the community level and improve coordinated resource mobilisation, marking a strategic shift toward culturally anchored, continent-wide action against gender-based violence.
