Advocates Urge Southwest States to Intensify Efforts Against School-Related Gender Violence
Education and child-rights advocates have called on governments across the Southwest to intensify actions against School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV), following fresh evidence from a pilot intervention in Oyo State that revealed persistent safety concerns in primary schools.
The call was made during a press conference held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan on Thursday, where the Principal Investigator of the project and Executive Director of Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YcDEI), Prof. Adefunke Ekine, presented findings from a two-pronged SRGBV project implemented in Ibadan with support from the Fund for Innovation in Development (FID).
According to Prof. Ekine, the study found that incidents of bullying, harassment and other forms of violence remain prevalent in many public primary schools, posing serious threats to pupils’ wellbeing, safety and academic performance.
“School-Related Gender-Based Violence is not an abstract concept; it is the daily reality of many children,” she said.
Prof. Ekine explained that SRGBV includes a wide range of harmful behaviours such as physical assault, psychological abuse, intimidation and sexual harassment that occur in, around or through school environments, affecting both girls and boys.
She added that available research across the region indicates that girls are often at greater risk of emotional, physical and sexual abuse within school settings, a situation that frequently leads to absenteeism, poor academic performance, class repetition and in some cases school drop-out.
Highlighting the intervention carried out under the project, Prof. Ekine said the pilot programme was implemented in 45 public primary schools in Ibadan, where teachers were trained on child protection and positive discipline approaches, while pupils were educated on recognising unsafe behaviours and using safe reporting mechanisms.
Despite the progress recorded through the initiative, she noted that entrenched social norms that tolerate violent discipline, weak reporting structures and limited awareness among stakeholders continue to hinder efforts to ensure safer school environments.
“At the national level, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding children and promoting safe learning spaces,” she noted.
She recalled that in 2024, government officials in Abuja launched Standard Operating Procedures for the prosecution of perpetrators of SRGBV, stressing that every child has the right to receive education in an environment free from fear, intimidation and violence.
However, Prof. Ekine lamented that the implementation of these policies across the Southwest remains inconsistent, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where schools often struggle with limited resources and inadequate institutional support.
She therefore called for stronger enforcement of existing policies, sustained training for teachers, well-structured reporting mechanisms and deeper collaboration among government agencies, educators, parents and community leaders.
Prof. Ekine also urged state ministries of education across the Southwest to institutionalise SRGBV prevention training within teacher development programmes, establish clear reporting and response systems in schools, and promote community engagement in child protection efforts.
“When teachers are equipped, pupils are empowered and systems are strengthened, schools become safer, more accountable and more supportive environments for every child,” she said, while advocating the expansion of evidence-based interventions beyond Oyo State to other parts of the region.