Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains one of the gravest threats to women and girls in Nigeria, but advocates say the silence surrounding it must end. In Enugu, Dr. Cyril Uche Anioke, a Strategic Communicator and Mediation Expert, has called on men and boys to take the lead in breaking cycles of abuse and harmful masculinity.
Dr. Anioke made the call during a workshop organized by the Women Aid Collective (WACOL) in partnership with the Ford Foundation on Monday, September 29, 2025. The programme brought together civil society groups, government agencies, medical practitioners, the media, schools, and community stakeholders to deepen advocacy and practical training in GBV prevention.
Delivering a powerful presentation titled “Interrupting Cycles – Healthy Masculinity, Healthy Relationships,” Anioke said gender-based violence is often a product of learned behaviour, passed from one generation to another.
“A boy who grew up witnessing his father use violence to assert control, or hearing constant messages that men must dominate women, is more likely to internalize these behaviours as normal,” Dr. Anioke stated.
“As adults, such boys may either perpetrate violence themselves, tolerate it in silence, or struggle with their own identities as men. This cycle must be broken.”
On the theme “Men/Boys and Societal Gender Norms – Myths vs Facts,” Anioke explained that many cultural teachings reinforce rigid ideas of masculinity that fuel abuse.
“While positive values like courage and responsibility should be promoted, harmful gender myths pressure men into unhealthy behaviours that normalize domination and emotional suppression. Understanding the difference between myths and facts is crucial for preventing GBV,” he added.
He also spoke on the “Media-Society-Faith Connection: Media vs Reality,” stressing that men and boys do not form their identities in isolation.
“Media glamorizes violence and hypersexuality, society repeats these patterns, and sometimes faith traditions are misused to justify patriarchy. These three forces can either build healthy values or normalize harm,” he cautioned.
Representing WACOL’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Joy Ezeilo (SAN), Senior Programme Officer Amala Okwuosa said the workshop was part of the “Men and Boys’ Engagement Program to Promote Positive Masculinity and Healthy Relationships.”
“Gender-based violence is preventable, but it persists due to entrenched patriarchal norms and systemic inequalities. This project seeks to entrench positive shifts at individual, household, and community levels by involving men and boys as allies,” Ezeilo explained.
She noted that progress would be monitored through pre- and post-programme evaluations measuring attitudinal and behavioural changes.
Resource person Mr. Chris Sanctus Okereke delivered sessions on “Understanding Objectification and Victim-Blaming” and “Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Exploitation.” He highlighted the importance of consent, respect, and rejecting defensive behaviours that silence victims.
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment from all participants to actively confront GBV in their homes, communities, and institutions.
Stakeholders agreed that GBV is not just a personal issue but a social crisis that violates human rights, perpetuates inequality, undermines economic growth, and weakens social cohesion.
