Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a public sin and a violation of God’s image in humanity, according to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack.
Walson-Jack stated this in a keynote address delivered at the Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative (ACADI) stakeholders’ dialogue on “Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Faith-Based Spaces: Changing the Narrative” held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Dr Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, she urged the church to create “safe sanctuaries” where survivors of GBV could find refuge rather than be silenced.
She observed that faith communities were not immune to GBV, citing the global statistic that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence, often from someone she knows.
Walson-Jack condemned the tendency to advise survivors to “pray harder, endure for the sake of the family, or forgive and forget”, noting that misinterpretations of scripture were sometimes used to justify abuse.
“Let us be clear. Gender-based violence is not a private matter. It is a public sin. It is not cultural. It is immoral. It is not the will of God. It is a violation of His image in humanity,” she said.
She called on the Church to reclaim the true message of the Gospel — one of love, justice, equality, and dignity for all — referencing Genesis 1:27, which declares that mankind was created in God’s image, male and female.
The HOCSF reminded participants that Christ Himself honoured women by defending the woman caught in adultery and entrusting the message of the resurrection to Mary Magdalene.
She advocated for women’s empowerment and leadership in scriptural interpretation and urged the Church to teach young men that true masculinity lies in service and respect, not dominance.
Walson-Jack encouraged faith communities to promote education and awareness on consent, healthy relationships, and mutual respect as part of Christian formation.
Commending ACADI’s efforts, supported by the Ford Foundation, she called for partnerships between faith-based organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and traditional institutions to strengthen awareness campaigns and advocate for survivor-centred policies.
“Preventing gender-based violence in the faith-based space is not optional. It is a moral and spiritual necessity,” she stated.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, represented by Bishop Blessing Enyindah, the Anglican Bishop of Ikwerre and Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, emphasised the Church’s resolve to speak against GBV.
“The Church realised that we should do something. We should not be silent about it. We should speak against it,” he said, noting that an organisation had been established to educate people on GBV and its effects.
Dr Chichi Aniagolu, Ford Foundation’s West Africa Coordinator, said the dialogue was vital to addressing entrenched attitudes, noting that even formal institutions like the police often failed to protect survivors due to bias.
“If you’re a woman and you go to report, the policeman will ask, ‘what are you doing here?’ So even the policeman who’s paid to protect you does not see it as his role,” she observed.
ACADI’s National Coordinator, Mr Abiodun Ipinmoye, said the initiative aimed to break the culture of silence and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
“Sometimes we say forgiveness over justice. But we are saying more than that — perpetrators must not be left at large,” he stressed, announcing plans to establish “safe spaces” within churches for immediate victim support.
The Chairman of ACADI’s Governing Council, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, underscored the importance of engaging children and youth in the initiative.
“No one develops violent attitudes in adulthood; they are formed as we grow. To change tomorrow, we must begin with the children of today,” he said.
The dialogue concluded with a unified commitment from faith leaders, civil society, and development partners to transform Nigeria’s faith-based spaces into sanctuaries of safety, dignity, and love for all.
(NAN)