The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to launch an Emergency Gender-Based Violence Response Fund aimed at tackling the severe underfunding of GBV prevention and survivor support services.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, during a High-Level Engagement in Abuja marking the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The event was organized in partnership with Women for Women International.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained that the fund has become urgent because less than 0.5% of Nigeria’s national budget currently goes to GBV prevention and response, leaving safe spaces, shelters, and survivor support centres severely under-resourced. She warned that Nigeria is witnessing increasingly disturbing attacks on women and girls, citing the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger States and the kidnapping of six female directors as examples of the growing crisis FRCN HQ nigeriastartupact.ng.
Context and Implications (woven into the narrative)
The creation of the emergency fund reflects the government’s recognition that piecemeal interventions are no longer sufficient. Survivors of gender-based violence often face limited access to medical care, psychosocial support, and legal aid, while safe spaces across the country struggle to remain open due to lack of funding.
Analysts note that a dedicated emergency fund could strengthen Nigeria’s response capacity, ensuring rapid support for survivors and reinforcing prevention programs. It also signals a shift toward institutionalizing GBV response as part of national policy, rather than leaving it to NGOs and donor-driven projects.
For survivors, the fund promises greater access to justice and rehabilitation, while for the broader society, it underscores the government’s commitment to tackling one of Nigeria’s most pressing human rights challenges.
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