By Gabriel Ameh
The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) on Thursday hosted a national roundtable in Abuja as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, bringing together women leaders, young female advocates, policymakers and rights defenders to tackle the rising cases of Digital Violence Against Women in Nigeria.
Declaring the event open, the Chairperson of the occasion, Comrade Sandra Ogbonna, delivered a charged and inspiring welcome address. She described digital violence as “the fastest-growing form of abuse against Nigerian women,” stressing that online spaces originally designed for innovation and expression have become tools of intimidation, harassment, misinformation, and character damage.
We must unite to reclaim the digital space and ensure it becomes a platform of empowerment, not fear. Women deserve safety online just as much as they deserve it offline. Today, we speak with one voice: digital violence must end,” Comrade Ogbonna said.
In her keynote address, Lucy Fadumila, FCT vice chairperson, emphasized that digital attacks ranging from cyberbullying and non-consensual image sharing to impersonation and political disinformation are silencing women in leadership and discouraging young girls from participating in governance.
A society that allows women to be harmed online is a society that limits its own progress. NILOWV remains committed to policy advocacy, digital protection mechanisms, and training young women to navigate the online world safely and confidently,”. She declared
Delivering her goodwill message, Hon. Loveth Izekor commended NILOWV for championing the cause of women’s digital safety. She called for stronger legislation, noting that digital abuse has become a national security concern.
“We need stricter laws, faster prosecution of offenders, and more awareness so women understand their rights. No woman should be bullied into silence by faceless digital attackers,” she noted.
In another goodwill message, Dr. Bridget Okafor urged parents, institutions, and communities to join the fight against digital violence. She stressed the importance of mental health support for women who experience online harassment.
Digital violence carries emotional scars that can last long after the screen goes off. Collective action is our strongest weapon,” Dr. Bridget said.
A key highlight of the event was the interactive session with young female NILOWV participants, who shared their personal experiences, fears, and aspirations regarding the digital world. The FCT youths leader Favour Chika Paul spoke passionately about the dual nature of the online space its limitless opportunities and its hidden risks.
She identified advantages of social media, such as education, digital entrepreneurship, networking, and political engagement. However, they also raised concerns about disadvantages, including cyberbullying, body-shaming, identity theft, hate speech, and the psychological burden of online comparison.
The young women further recommended practical strategies for managing the digital space responsibly digital literacy for girls, reporting and blocking abusive accounts, emotional resilience, strong passwords, critical thinking, and creating safe digital communities.
Participants agreed that combating digital violence requires partnership between government, civil society, schools, media platforms, and families.
The A panel discussion moderated by Chinyere obasi, Legal adviser NILOWV FCT moderated the event featuring digital rights experts, union leaders, and gender advocates, dissected the realities faced by women and girls online and proposed actionable strategies for prevention, intervention, and justice.
The event closed with a renewed commitment from NILOWV leadership to continue amplifying the voices of Nigerian women and building safer online spaces for future generations.
