Empowering Voices Against DFGBV: DYWEDI leads campus engagement to combat digital gender-based violence

L–R: Harriet Uzoka – Founder, DYWEDI; Dr. Sunday Idoko Sunday – Dean of Student Affairs, University of Abuja; Nkoro Sandra Isioma – Gender Advocate.

In a bold response to the growing threat of Digitally Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (DFGBV), the Dynamic Young Women Empowerment and Development Initiative (DYWEDI), with support from the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, hosted a transformative awareness-driven engagement at the University of Abuja.

Tagged “Empowering Voices Against DFGBV,” the event brought together students, gender advocates, and university leadership to educate, empower, and equip young people with the tools to identify, resist, and take action against all forms of DFGBV.

Aisha Jonah Kaltungo, Director at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), delivered a compelling address urging participants to recognise DFGBV as a serious human rights violation, not merely digital misconduct.

“This is not just bad behaviour. This is violence. And safeguarding young women in digital spaces is not a favour, it is a human rights imperative,” she declared.

“Digital rights are human rights. Your safety, privacy, dignity, and freedom of expression travel with you online.”

In his goodwill message, Sunday Idoko Sunday, Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Abuja, commended DYWEDI’s leadership and emphasised the pivotal role of young people in navigating and reshaping today’s digital world.

“DFGBV threatens not only well-being, but also undermines safety and mental health,” he noted. “This engagement offers a platform to build awareness, deepen knowledge, and ignite collective responsibility.”

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The event featured interactive conversations, DFGBV fact sheets, case study storytelling, and educational sessions on online safety, digital rights, and response mechanisms. It aimed to nurture a generation of digitally resilient youth who are not only informed but prepared to lead action within their communities.

Harriet Uzoka, Founder of DYWEDI, shared in her address:

“We believe that when young women understand their digital rights, recognise abuse, and are equipped to advocate for safer systems, we are one step closer to achieving gender justice, both online and offline.”

She encouraged students to be intentional about building their capacity and embracing their roles as advocates and protectors of safe digital spaces.

As a youth-focused civil society organisation, DYWEDI continues to amplify young women’s voices across Nigeria by bridging digital advocacy with grassroots mobilisation. Its work is rooted in the vision of a peaceful and equitable society powered by social inclusion.

The Empowering Voices Against DFGBV engagement concluded with a strong commitment from participants to serve as digital safety ambassadors, helping to build a safer and more inclusive online world for all.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.