05/08/2026
LAGOS DSVA TRAINS MARRIAGE REGISTRARS TO MAINSTREAM PRE-MARITAL COUNSELLING FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION
The Lagos State Domestic and S*xual Violence Agency, with support from Ford Foundation, successfully organised a two-day capacity-building training for Marriage Registrars across all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State on 29th and 30th July 2026 at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Ikeja.
The training was designed to strengthen the capacity of Marriage Registrars to integrate standardised pre-marital counselling into the marriage registration process, enabling them to identify early warning signs of abuse, promote healthy relationships, and facilitate timely referrals where necessary.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Programs Unit Lead, Ms. Zainab Alaka, described Marriage Registrars as critical frontline stakeholders whose engagement with intending couples presents an opportunity to prevent Domestic and S*xual Violence before it occurs.
Participants received expert-led sessions on healthy relationships, gender norms, consent, effective communication, violence prevention, and standardised pre-marital counselling techniques. They were also introduced to the Marital Compatibility Assessment Tool (MCAT), designed to assess couples' readiness for marriage, identify safeguarding concerns, and support appropriate referrals.
The training concluded with a session on Lagos State's coordinated response to S*xual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), highlighting survivor support services, referral pathways, and the role of Marriage Registrars in early identification, documentation, counselling, and safeguarding.
This initiative reaffirmed the Lagos State Government's commitment to strengthening primary prevention by equipping Marriage Registrars to promote healthy marriages, prevent abuse, and contribute to safer homes and communities across Lagos State.
The Lagos State Government
