Centre LSD launches digital course to promote male feminism, GBV prevention

As part of ongoing efforts to mobilize men in the campaign for gender equality and the elimination of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has unveiled an online learning course on Male Feminism and GBV Prevention.

Tagged ‘Male Feminists Network’ (MFN), the initiative seeks to train, mentor, and empower male leaders and grassroots influencers who will champion feminist values, challenge harmful gender stereotypes, and promote gender justice across Nigeria.

Advertisements

Addressing journalists during the launch of the project in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director of Centre LSD and Project Director of the Male Feminists Network, described the project as a bold step toward dismantling patriarchal norms and building a generation of male allies committed to social justice.

According to him, the MFN project was conceived as “a bold and transformative initiative to challenge patriarchal norms and mobilize men as allies in the fight against gender-based violence.

Advertisements

“When we launched the MFN Project in August 2025, we made a commitment to build a sustainable and knowledge-driven network of male feminists who are informed, skilled, and inspired to take action. Today’s unveiling of the MFN Learning Management System (LMS) is the fulfillment of that promise,” he said.

Dr. Igbuzor said the idea is targeted at training at least 1,000 leaders across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and build a network of 10,000 certified male feminists in the coming years.

Highlighting the urgency of engaging men in tackling GBV, Dr. Igbuzor cited alarming statistics showing that more than one in three Nigerian women has suffered physical violence, while many others endure emotional, sexual, or economic abuse.

“Reports indicate that over 35% of Nigerian women have experienced physical violence, and many more face emotional, sexual, or economic abuse. We cannot end GBV by focusing on women alone. Men must be part of the solution—not as spectators, but as active champions of justice, equality, and nonviolence. The MFN Digital Course embodies this philosophy. It is designed to transform mindsets, equip men with feminist knowledge, and mobilize them for sustained advocacy and community action,” he said.

He described gender-based violence as one of the most pervasive human rights violations in Nigeria and emphasized the importance of education, reflection, and advocacy in addressing the problem.

While mobilizing donors, the private sector, and Nigerians for the project, Igbuzor said, “We are demonstrating that men can be partners—not perpetrators—in building a just society. We are proving that technology can be a tool for liberation, not oppression; and that education can dismantle the very structures that perpetuate violence and discrimination.

“Let this launch ignite a new wave of enlightenment across homes, institutions, and communities. Let every man who logs on to mfn.centrelsd.org find not just information, but inspiration—to act, to lead, and to champion equality.

“Together, we can end the cycle of gender-based violence. Together, we can nurture a culture where masculinity means empathy, strength means respect, and leadership means service.”

Dr. Igbuzor urged government agencies to integrate male engagement into national GBV prevention strategies, called on donors to support digital and social innovations for equality, and encouraged the private sector to promote male allyship within workplace culture.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Director of Development at Centre LSD, Dr. Margaret Fagboyo, noted that over the years, efforts to tackle Gender-Based Violence (GBV) have largely been driven by women and women’s organizations. She stressed that lasting progress can only be achieved when men move beyond being passive observers to becoming active allies in the fight against GBV.

She said; “Today’s event marks a remarkable step in our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society where men and women stand side by side in the pursuit of gender equality and the prevention of violence in all its forms.”

Advertisements