NCWS President Calls for Stronger Action Against Digital Violence at National Dialogue
The National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria, Princess Edna D. D. Azura has reaffirmed the commitment of Nigerian women to the fight against technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV), calling for urgent action from government, tech companies, and youth to curb rising digital abuses.
Speaking at the National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence held on December 5, 2025, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Princess Azura commended UN Women, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Development Partners Group on Gender (DPGG) for convening what she described as a “timely and crucial conversation.”
Standing before the audience of government officials, development partners, civil society groups, and youth advocates, she noted that millions of Nigerian women under the NCWS umbrella stand firmly behind the global 2025 16 Days of Activism theme, “UNITE! End All Forms of Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”
Princess Azura raised concern over the increasing cases of cyberstalking, online harassment, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, stressing that digital abuses are not mere online altercations but serious violations with physical, emotional, and economic consequences.
“As the world digitizes, our advocacy must also digitize,” she remarked, warning that digital platforms have become new grounds for the violation of women’s dignity. She emphasized that online violence silences women and deters them from participating fully in public life and leadership.
Speaking from the perspective of the NCWS as “mothers of the nation,” she highlighted the importance of Digital Parenting and Mentorship, calling on families to uphold values of respect both offline and online. She also encouraged the youth to become advocates for online safety rather than contributors to digital harm.
Princess Azura urged the government to intensify enforcement of the VAPP Act and Cybercrimes Act to prosecute digital abusers more effectively, while also calling on technology companies to strengthen safety systems and prioritize women’s protection over profit.
Reaffirming NCWS’s dedication to national efforts, she pledged the Council’s full support for the development and rollout of Nigeria’s National Roadmap on TF-GBV. She assured stakeholders that the NCWS grassroots network from national headquarters to community levels will be mobilized to educate women on digital rights and safety.
She concluded by calling for a united strategy: “Let us leave this hall not just with words, but with concrete actions to make the internet a safe space for every Nigerian girl-child.”
The dialogue formed part of ongoing activities marking the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
