The Diocese of Niger Delta North of the Church of Nigeria, Global Anglican Communion, has intensified its campaign against gender-based violence, calling on church leaders, families, communities and relevant institutions to break the culture of silence and speak up against abuse.
The Diocese, under the leadership of the Bishop, Rt. Rev’d Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Mercy Oluchi Wisdom, implementing the Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative (ACADI), Gender-Based Violence Prevention Programme in partnership with the Church of Nigeria, Global Anglican Communion, with support from the Ford Foundation early this week.
The intervention is aimed at addressing and reducing gender-based violence within the Church of Nigeria and the wider society.
The Diocese of Niger Delta North joined the programme in January 2025 as part of its second phase, which involved 47 dioceses, following an initial pilot phase involving 25 dioceses.
As part of the intervention, designated Desk Officers and Senior Clergy were trained. Representing the Diocese of Niger Delta North were Dame Dr. Blessing Uzor and Venerable Prof. Ben O. Onu.
Since joining the programme, the Diocese, through its team, has carried out 32 targeted advocacy and capacity-building activities for leaders, activism campaigns, a diocesan campaign rally and awareness programmes across various strata of the Diocese.
To further strengthen the advocacy, the Bishop, Rt. Rev’d Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Mercy Oluchi Wisdom, through the GBV Unit, organised a talk show and media engagement involving critical stakeholders from the Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, and the Gender-Based Violence arm of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the team, last year, the Bishop, Rt. Rev’d Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, DSSRS, JP, made a policy statement addressing gender-based violence and declared his commitment to achieving zero tolerance for GBV in the Diocese.
The programme, facilitated by Mr. Princewill Ohalem, the Diocesan Youth President, Barrister Blessing Okpo and Mr. Chimankpam Okechukwu, was held on 15 August 2026 at The Bishop’s Chapel, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Garrison, Port Harcourt, and brought together participants from various leadership arms of the Diocese.
The Senior Clergy, Prof. Ben O. Onu, represented by Rev’d Emeka Odum, delivered a brief exhortation from Ephesians 5:25, stressing the need for families to love one another and be intentional about their marriages to guard against strife that could lead to violence.
In her opening address, the Team Leader of the GBV Unit, Dame Dr. Blessing Uzor, said the gathering was aimed not only at creating awareness and encouraging collective action towards preventing gender-based violence, but also at demonstrating the Diocese’s commitment to achieving zero tolerance for GBV.
Uzor defined gender-based violence as any harmful act committed against a person because of the person’s gender, noting that it occurs in different forms and that women and girls are particularly vulnerable.
She described GBV as a menace prevalent in communities and neighbourhoods, saying it can be traumatic and, in some cases, fatal.
According to her, “All hands must be on deck to combat the menace, while urging stakeholders to break the culture of silence, speak up and help save lives.
Speaking on the impact of gender-based violence in the society, the Police representative, ACP Ola Rachael, described GBV as a violation of human rights.
She said no one, under the Constitution, has the right to infringe on another person’s right to dignity, defining gender-based violence as any harmful act perpetrated against the will of another person.
ACP Rachael explained the difference between sex and gender, noting that sex is biological, while gender refers to the social roles assigned to individuals by society.
She explained gender stereotypes can also affect men and boys, stressing that gender-based violence is not limited to women and girls.
According to her, ‘Forms of GBV include physical, sexual, psychological, economic and emotional abuse”.
She described GBV as traumatic, warning that perpetrators are sometimes people close to victims, including uncles and other close relatives whom victims may not suspect.
The Police representative called on parents to make themselves safe spaces for their children and youths to speak about their experiences, noting that many young people are carrying heavy burdens in their hearts.
She urged victims and members of the public to speak up and report cases to the police through petitions, advising that survivors of alleged rape or defilement should be taken to a hospital for medical examination and documentation to help establish the case before it is reported to the police.
On their part, the International Federation of Female Lawyers, FIDA represented by Mrs. Okorite Yobo, addressed the topic, “Faith, Dignity and Justice: Stakeholders’ Role in Ending GBV.”
Yobo said stakeholders must demonstrate faith, uphold human dignity and promote justice if gender-based violence is to be effectively tackled.
She explained that the legal definition of rape has become broader under the provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and other relevant legislation.
She also highlighted laws addressing gender-based violence, including the VAPP laws and legislation prohibiting female genital mutilation.
Yobo urged parents and guardians to create an environment where children can speak freely about their experiences, condemning the culture of “don’t be heard, only be seen.”, stressing that under the law, a child below the age of 18 cannot give consent, regardless of how intelligent or mature the child may appear.
She further warned that parents and communities must remain vigilant when it comes to violations against minors.
On the role of faith leaders and legal groups in tackling GBV, Yobo identified several measures, including pro bono legal representation for survivors, support from churches, fundraising to assist victims, reporting every case of GBV to the police and following up on such reports.
She also called for legal action against perpetrators, clear institutional policies and rules against GBV within churches, as well as empowerment programmes, particularly for girls and women.
In appreciation, the Diocese of Niger Delta North said the talk show and media engagement formed part of its broader efforts to strengthen awareness, prevention, reporting and response to gender-based violence.
The initiative brought together faith leaders and representatives of key institutions to encourage a coordinated approach to addressing the menace.
The stakeholders reiterated the need for individuals to reject silence in the face of abuse and support survivors rather than stigmatise them.
They stressed the importance of early reporting, institutional accountability anñyer-based violence.
