NAPTIP: 58% of Sexual Violence Survivors in Nigeria Don't Seek Help

Nigeria faces a significant challenge with unreported sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as 58 percent of survivors do not seek help, according to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The agency further disclosed that a concerning 21 percent of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 have endured physical or sexual violence. These figures were presented during a two-day SGBV Media Corps Workshop organized by NAPTIP with support from the European Union.

The workshop also marked the launch of the SGBV Media Corps, an initiative aimed at enhancing journalists' capacity to report on SGBV cases with greater ethical consideration, accuracy, and responsibility. The program targets the Federal Capital Territory and Benue, Kaduna, and Oyo states, focusing on improving public engagement and promoting access to reliable information on SGBV prevention and response.

Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, a facilitator at the workshop, emphasized the scale of violence against women in Nigeria, noting that the high prevalence rate makes media's role in providing accurate information and fostering a safe environment for survivors even more critical. Vincent Adekoye, head of Press and Public Relations at NAPTIP, urged journalists to move beyond reporting individual incidents and investigate the systemic factors contributing to the persistence of SGBV, including institutional roles, cultural practices, and social norms.

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We want the media to go out of the normal routine of writing reports to be able to question some things that are coming up.