Rinsola Abiola seeks stronger action to tackle digital violence against women

The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) has called for the promotion of responsible behaviour in digital spaces to end violence against women and girls.

In a statement on Tuesday to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 2025 16 Days of Activism, Rinsola Abiola, director-general of the CLTC, warned that the surge in online abuse has become a growing threat to women and girls nationwide.

The campaign commences annually on November 25 and will run for 16 days until December 10, when the United Nations celebrates ‘Human Rights Day’.

Drawing from this year’s theme, ‘Unite To End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls’, Abiola said the digital world has become a significant hotspot for gender-based abuse and confronting the threat is more crucial than ever.

The director-general listed cyberbullying, online harassment, hate speech and non-consensual sharing of intimate content as some of the abuses women face, saying such behaviour erodes public participation and weakens democratic discourse.

“Digital violence is a profound failure of citizenship. It strips victims of their dignity, silences women’s voices in public discourse and undermines the health of our democracy. Responsible citizenship in the 21st century must extend into the digital realm,” she said.

She said the CLTC — tasked with grooming responsible citizens and future leaders — considers the digital environment fundamental to its mandate.

Abiola described leadership as “power used for protection”, adding that online harassment runs contrary to the values of discipline, patriotism and empathy taught at the centre.

“We must teach our young people to be architects of safe, inclusive digital communities — not contributors to digital decay,” she said.

The director-general outlined several steps the centre is taking to address gender-based violence, including integrating digital citizenship and ethics into its training curriculum, strengthening advocacy to counter online impunity, and partnering with technology stakeholders to improve online safety and support protective policies.

Abiola urged Nigerian youths, who constitute a chunk of internet users, to challenge harmful content, promote respectful online engagement and help create safer virtual spaces for women and girls.

“As we observe these 16 days, let us unite to end digital violence and build a future where every woman and girl can participate fully and without fear,” she added.