In commemoration of International Women’s Day, 2021, Project Alert, an implementing partner of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Project in Nigeria, organised a Refresher Training for members of the SGBV Community Surveillance Teams it set up in 9 LGAs across the 2 senatorial zones in Lagos. The LGAs are: Lagos Mainland (Yaba), Ikorodu, Kosofe, Alimosho, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Oshodi-Isolo and Agege.

In each of these LGAs, we have 6 men and 6 women who volunteered to be members of the team, working with Project Alert, to create awareness in their communities; while watching out for cases they can give support and referrals. The passion and commitment of these men and women is unrivalled. In the seven (7) months they have been set up, they have organised 4 outreaches in each of their LGAs, and rendered support services by way of referral to the police, hospitals and NGOs to almost seventy (70) women and girls.

As we celebrate IWD 2021, active community engagement is the way forward to responding to SGBV in Nigeria. Communities MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY