Chinedum the Treasure
Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre (GPSDC), with support from the Women Aid Collective (WACOL) has trained Umuada women from Nkpor in Idemili North and Nibo in Awka South Local Government Areas of Anambra State on preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promoting community reforms.
The two-day residential training held on September 23 and 24, 2026, in Awka, brought together Umuada women under the project, “Empowering Christian Women and Women Leaders of Culture for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria Through the Strengthening of Grassroots Organizations.”
Addressing the participants on “Umuada, Community Leadership and Institutional Change,” the Executive Director of GPSDC, Mrs. Eucharia Anekwe, charged the women to deliberately develop themselves for leadership.
She stressed that leadership skills, like management skills, can be learned. She outlined honesty, commitment, effective communication and confidence among the qualities required of a good leader.
“Umuada must understand their roles, coordinate their structures and work collectively to address GBV and other harmful practices at the community level.
“The essence of strengthening Umuada was to equip them to take action within their communities,” she added.
Highlighting the need for institutional reforms, Anekwe called for changes that would promote accountability, women’s participation and effective leadership.
Citing Nkpor, she disclosed that Umuada in the community had successfully advocated for a change in its leadership structure after a president remained in office for more than 30 years.
She however called for rotational leadership, constitutional reforms and other measures to strengthen women’s participation in community governance and enhance the capacity of Umuada to influence positive change.
Earlier, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of GPSDC Mr. Mmadubueze Christian explained that the organisation’s previous phase focused largely on responding to GBV cases, including interventions in Nibo and Nkpor.
He noted that the current phase places greater emphasis on prevention and community level action.
Speaking on “Culture, Faith and Gender-Based Violence Prevention,” the Coordinator, Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, Dr. Winnie Arinze, described women as custodians of culture and faith with significant influence over practices and attitudes within their communities.
Quoting author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Arinze said, “Culture does not make people, people make culture.”
Describing Umuada as sisters and daughters of the lineage regardless of their marital status, she charged them to use their cultural influence to protect women and girls rather than shame victims.
Arinze also advocated the involvement of men and boys in GBV prevention and urged women to challenge jokes, proverbs and social norms that normalise abuse.
“Gender-based violence is not women’s issue, it is a community issue,” she stressed.
Speaking on “Christian Faith, Women’s Dignity and Gender-Based Violence Prevention,” a representative of the Women’s Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Mrs. Nonye Okpeze, cautioned churches against responses that encourage women to endure abuse in silence.
She warned against treating GBV as a family matter or asking survivors to simply pray about abuse, advocating instead for responses based on love, justice, responsibility, restoration and protection.
Also addressing the participants on “Understanding GBV and its Root Causes,” the Programme Manager of GPSDC, Mrs. Ozoemena Ogochukwu, identified gender inequality, unequal power relations and harmful social norms as major factors driving GBV.
She explained that the training was designed to equip women leaders with practical knowledge and skills to move from responding to GBV cases to preventing violence before it occurs.
Participants were also taken through advocacy for institutional and community-level reforms, identifying issues requiring change, developing advocacy messages and engaging traditional, religious and community leaders.
Facilitating a session on women’s rights, gender equality and accountability, Mrs. Oluchi Chikwunie of GPSDC highlighted the importance of promoting accountability within families, communities and institutions.
Sharing their experiences, the participating Umuada leaders spoke about GBV and harmful practices in their communities and committed to taking the lessons from the training back home.
They also pledged to speak against practices and policies that perpetuate violence and create safe and confidential pathways through which survivors can seek help.
Highpoint of the training was the presentation of the Umuada Advocacy and Institutional Reform Action Plan, which outlined practical steps the women leaders would take to promote GBV prevention and community-level change.
About Author
