12/08/2026
NAPTIP, International IDEA Launch SGBV Media Corps in Benue, Strengthen Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), has launched the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Media Corps in Benue State as part of efforts to strengthen public awareness, reporting and response to gender-based violence.
The initiative, supported by the European Union under the Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) Programme, seeks to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills required to report SGBV cases accurately, ethically and responsibly, while protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of survivors.
The launch, which included a two-day SGBV Media Corps workshop, brought together journalists and key stakeholders to deepen understanding of SGBV, survivor-centred reporting, referral pathways, prevention mechanisms and the role of the media in addressing harmful social norms that contribute to violence against women and girls.
The Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare remains a critical state-level institution in this intervention, given its mandate for the protection of women, children and other vulnerable persons, as well as its coordination of SGBV prevention and response activities across the state.
The Ministry has continued to work with development partners, civil society organisations, security agencies and other government institutions to strengthen the SGBV response system in Benue, including coordination through the State Gender-Based Violence Technical Working Group.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Theresa Odachi Ikwue, has consistently emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in tackling violence against women and girls, particularly as displacement, insecurity, poverty and other vulnerabilities continue to expose women and children to various forms of abuse.
The Ministry’s role also includes supporting awareness creation, strengthening referral mechanisms, facilitating access to protection and social welfare services, and ensuring that survivors are connected to appropriate medical, psychosocial, legal and other support services.
The new Media Corps therefore provides an important platform for strengthening the Ministry’s engagement with the media and ensuring that information on available services, reporting channels, prevention initiatives and government interventions reaches communities across the state.
Speaking on the initiative, NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations/Population Unit, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, urged journalists to move beyond reporting individual incidents and investigate the underlying factors that allow SGBV to persist.
He stressed the need for journalists to examine institutional responses, cultural practices, social norms and behaviours that contribute to violence, while ensuring that survivors are not subjected to further harm through insensitive reporting.
Adekoye disclosed that NAPTIP had rescued more than 3,000 persons from critical situations since January 2026 and secured more than 20 convictions in SGBV-related cases, including three life imprisonment sentences. 
He also expressed concern over the high level of under-reporting of SGBV, noting that a significant number of survivors do not seek help or report their experiences. Recent figures presented by NAPTIP indicate that 21 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, while 58 per cent of survivors do not seek help or report their experiences. 
The situation underscores the importance of strengthening public confidence in institutions responsible for prevention, protection and response, including the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and its network of partners.
Also speaking, the Civil Society and Community Mobilisation Specialist at International IDEA, Ms. Wynyfred Achu-Egbuson, explained that the Media Corps was designed to equip journalists to report SGBV responsibly while supporting the implementation of laws and policies aimed at protecting survivors.
She said the programme would strengthen institutions, improve coordination among stakeholders and support implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, while also drawing attention to emerging forms of abuse, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence. 
The initiative covers the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Kaduna and Oyo States, with emphasis on improving media and community-based communication on SGBV prevention and response.
For Benue State, the collaboration comes at a significant time as the state continues to strengthen its institutional response to gender-based violence. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare has maintained engagements with UN agencies, NAPTIP, international organisations, CSOs and other partners on GBV prevention, case management, psychosocial support, protection and referral services.
The Ministry’s continued leadership and coordination, coupled with the emergence of a specialised SGBV Media Corps, is expected to improve the quality of public discourse around gender-based violence, encourage survivors and witnesses to report cases, promote access to available services and ultimately contribute to a safer environment for women, girls and other vulnerable persons in Benue State.
The initiative also reinforces the growing recognition that the fight against SGBV cannot be left to government agencies alone but requires a coordinated response involving the media, traditional and religious institutions, communities, civil society organisations, security agencies, health workers and development partners.
Through sustained collaboration and responsible reporting, stakeholders are expected to use the Media Corps as a vehicle for amplifying prevention messages, exposing systemic gaps, promoting accountability and ensuring that survivors receive the protection and support they need
![[Picture Speaks] The face of the capacity Mother General of Benue- Hon. Mrs. Theresa Odachi Ikwue Theresa Apochi-Ikwue ....](https://img5.govserv.org/009/199/1322050720091993.jpg)
