…Ministry, new era foundation signs MoU to expand protection for survivors

The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over the rising incidences of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria, revealing that 2,755 cases were formally documented between January and April 2026, while only four per cent of reported cases have been successfully prosecuted.

Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the New Era Foundation, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for the establishment and operation of a rehabilitation facility for survivors of gender-based violence.

The Minister described the statistics as a national emergency, warning that despite existing legal frameworks and advocacy efforts, violence against women and girls continues to rise at an alarming rate.

According to her, the 2,755 documented cases recorded in the first four months of the year translate to an average of 23 reported incidents daily, with the majority of victims being women and children.

“Nationally, only four per cent of formally reported GBV cases have been successfully prosecuted, leaving a staggering 96 per cent unresolved due to structural bottlenecks,” she said.

She further revealed that females account for more than 81 per cent of documented survivors, while sexual violence represents 82 per cent of all reported abuses, most of which affect girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years.

Describing the trend as a wake-up call, the Minister stressed the need for urgent and coordinated action to prevent violence, protect survivors and strengthen accountability mechanisms.

“I have always said we do not want Nigeria to become the capital of rape. That is why we are approaching this issue from every angle—addressing the root causes, strengthening prevention and ensuring protection for those affected,” she stated.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim lamented the severe shortage of facilities available to support vulnerable women and survivors across the country, noting that Nigeria currently has only 50 shelter and support centres despite its vast population and landmass.

“Today, as I speak to you, with our population and landmass, we only have 50 shelter centres catering for vulnerable persons. This is clearly inadequate and underscores the urgency of partnerships such as this,” she said.

The Minister explained that the MoU represents a strategic effort to create a survivor-centred model of care through collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations and philanthropic partners.

Under the agreement, the New Era Foundation’s Patient’s Home in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, will be transformed into a Women’s Support and Rehabilitation Home to provide temporary shelter and comprehensive support services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

According to her, the facility will offer much more than emergency accommodation by integrating mental health services, trauma care, legal support, rehabilitation and economic empowerment programmes aimed at helping survivors rebuild their lives.

“Structures such as this collaboration will not only help us prevent violence but also protect survivors. There is still a huge stigma around these issues, with many victims discouraged from speaking out or seeking help. We must create safe spaces where they can recover and regain their dignity,” she said.

The Minister noted that beyond immediate intervention, the partnership would strengthen national advocacy efforts and support the enforcement of protection laws while mobilising more stakeholders to join the fight against gender-based violence.

She disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is currently validating a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence as part of broader efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s response to violence against women and girls.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her vision and commitment to vulnerable groups through the New Era Foundation, describing the initiative as a practical demonstration of the survivor-centred approach championed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Earlier, Executive Secretary of the New Era Foundation, Mrs. Grace Giwa, said the Patient’s Home, originally established in 2019 as a transitional shelter and empowerment centre for childless widows and vulnerable women, would now serve as a rehabilitation centre for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

She explained that the facility forms part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to youth and women’s development, which has spanned over two decades through educational, leadership and empowerment programmes.

Also speaking, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, described gender-based violence as a major social, public health and human rights challenge with long-term consequences for survivors.

He said the agency would provide technical leadership for healthcare services within the rehabilitation home, including medical support, counselling, capacity building and quality assurance.

Aina noted that survivors often suffer physical injuries, psychological trauma, reproductive health complications and socioeconomic exclusion, making comprehensive support services essential for their recovery and reintegration.

He added that the partnership aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and improving access to essential social services.

Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the collaboration would serve as a national model for strengthening protection systems, expanding survivor support services and reducing the prevalence of gender-based violence across Nigeria.

The signing ceremony is expected to mark the beginning of a coordinated multi-sectoral response aimed at restoring dignity, hope and opportunity to survivors while advancing efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls nationwide.