Human Angle

YcDEI Holds Town Hall Meeting with Christian Leaders on GBV Prevention

By Web News 495

By Titilayo Kupoliyi

The Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YcDEI) has convened a town hall meeting for General Overseers of churches across the five Local Government Areas in the Ibadan Metropolis of Oyo State.

The meeting, supported by the Ford Foundation, forms part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to accelerate actions aimed at ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in society.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of YcDEI, Professor Adefunke Ekine, emphasized the influential role of church leaders in shaping moral and social attitudes.

She noted that congregants often look up to their General Overseers as representatives of God, making them strategic voices in promoting GBV prevention and fostering respectful relationships within communities.


Professor Ekine urged church leaders to consistently preach the correct application of biblical teachings and to exemplify godly living, as their conduct serves as a visible reflection of God’s character to the people.

Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator, Oluwatoyin Adebayo, explained that the town hall aimed to encourage churches to establish GBV Prevention Desks and integrate GBV prevention messages into marital counselling sessions and church safeguarding policies.

Over 25 churches participated in the programme, pledging their commitment to inaugurate GBV Prevention Committees and develop action plans to incorporate GBV awareness into sermons and marital counselling.


Participants, including Apostle Isaac Oluwanifise, General Overseer of Flame Gospel Ministry Mrs. Deborah Oluwafemi, and Mrs. Ayodele Alao, a Champion, described the initiative as timely and enlightening.

Apostle Oluwanifise, commended the organizers, urging leaders to “put all they were taught into practice,” adding that “what we need now is change, because charity begins at home.” He further emphasized the importance of engaging the youth early to achieve lasting results.

Mrs. Oluwafemi remarked that the programme “opened our eyes to the realities in society,” calling on participants to “keep amplifying the message until it reaches every nook and cranny of the state.”

She encouraged community members to “be their brother’s keeper and support GBV survivors.”

Mrs. Alao appreciated the initiative, highlighting the challenge of stigmatization that often silences survivors within church communities.

“Many people die before their time because they are afraid to speak out,” she said, advocating for the creation of safe spaces for survivors within faith institutions.

Representatives from the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Oyo State Ministry of Justice, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) were in attendance.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of draft documents on ending GBV in churches, an action plan for faith-based institutions, and group photographs to commemorate the engagement.

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Health

YcDEI Trains Female Christian Leaders on Tackling Gender-Based Violence

By Web News 171

By Titilayo Kupoliyi

Nipping Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the bud is a collective responsibility.

This was the submission of participants at the end of a 4-day workshop in Ibadan, organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation; Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YcDEI).

The participants, who were all female Christian leaders were selected across the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) from five (5) local governments in Ibadan.

They were trained on issues relating to Gender-Based Violence, including meaning, forms, causes and consequences of GBV and further explored how cultural norms, religious beliefs, myths and stereotypes create an enabling environment for GBV to thrive.

During the capacity building workshop, participants also examined topics such as gender roles; religious’ and stakeholders’ responsibilities in handling GBV cases; creating safe spaces and support system for survivors of GBV.

Two of the participants, Mrs Sarah Oluwatoyin and Dr. Bosade Ogunlana described the programme as timely and pledged to work with other stakeholders to reduce Gender-Based Violence to the barest minimum.

Dr Ogunlana said, “It has been a great opportunity to be part of this programme, I am ready to work with organisations to end every form of Gender-Based Violence”.

Mrs Oluwatoyin also affirmed that “Personally, I am ready to be an ambassador to fight against Gender-Based Violence as from now”.

The convener of the Programme and the Executive Director of YcDEI, Professor Adefunke Ekine opined that the training was organised for female Christian religious leaders who are also representatives of different Christian denominations in a bid to brainstorm and unravel all forms of Gender-Based Violences that may be occurring within the church.

Professor Ekine identified the vital role the church plays as a great pillar of influence in the home, community and the society as a whole.

She pointed out that women were more passionate about addressing issues relating to Gender-Based Violence as females constitutes the major survivors of GBV, hence the choice of participants.

The YcDEI Executive Director noted that GBV is on the increase and that religious leaders are also part of key stakeholders that are needed to convey messages to their congregation.

“Most people listen to their leaders in church as they see them as God’s representatives”

“Females are passionate about issues that affect their gender and will handle it with all seriousness”.

Furthermore, Professor Ekine pointed out that the Christian faith has some subtle biblical injunctions that are misinterpreted and had enhanced GBV even in churches.

For instance, 1 Corinthians 14: 34 says women should keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission as the law says.

Also, another bible verse that had often been mis-interpreted is 1 Peter 3:7 which says ‘Likewise, husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as a weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.’

She added that there was also a general misconception that the male child is superior to the female, hence giving them audacity to silence the female most times.

Professor Ekine emphasised that the female Christian leaders who are custodian of faith, beliefs, culture and norms, could serve as voices and role model to other girls / women in their sphere of influence, thereby encouraging them to speak up whenever they were being molested.

The participants were also presented with certificates at the end of the workshop.

They are also expected to commence sensitization on Gender-Based Violence from their churches and proceed to other churches in their catchment areas; visiting churches and counselling GBV survivors, alongside a staff representative of YcDEI in their team.

The training which began on 31st March, 2025, had in attendance representatives from Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Catholic Women Organisation.

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