The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) on Monday called for urgent, coordinated action to protect Nigerian girls from both online and offline violence, as the world commemorates the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child under the theme: “Empowering Girls for a Digital Future, Ending Online and Offline Violence.”
In a press statement signed by its Founding Director, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, WARDC expressed deep concern over the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Nigeria, describing it as “a shadow pandemic disproportionately affecting girls across the country.”
“Girls today are increasingly exposed to digital risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming, image-based sexual abuse, sextortion, and digital stalking—all of which threaten their safety, dignity, and mental well-being. These violations don’t stay online; they spill into their real lives, causing fear, trauma, and even pushing girls out of school or leadership spaces,” she added.
WARDC warned that the normalisation of tech-enabled abuse, coupled with a culture that blames victims instead of holding perpetrators accountable, reflects a broader societal neglect of girls’ rights and voices.
“Many girls still lack access to justice, mental health support, or even basic digital literacy skills that could help them stay safe in an increasingly online world,” the statement noted.
Beyond digital threats, the organization highlighted the continued challenges facing Nigerian girls, including early and forced marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, educational disparity, period poverty, and exclusion from STEM and digital sectors.
According to WARDC, more than 10 million Nigerian children are out of school, most of them girls—especially in conflict-affected and rural regions.
“Empowering the girl child is not a privilege—it is a necessity,” Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi emphasised. “If we want a just and inclusive digital future, we must invest in girls’ education, safety, and leadership today.”
The organisation outlined specific recommendations to government, law enforcement, technology companies, civil society, and families.
To the Government of Nigeria, WARDC urged the full implementation of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill and the Cybercrime Act to address gender-specific online risks. It also called for national frameworks to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, alongside investment in gender-responsive STEM education for girls.
To law enforcement and the judiciary, WARDC recommended survivor-centered investigation and prosecution of sexual and digital violence, and mandatory training for officers and judges on handling child protection cases.
Digital platforms and technology companies, the group said, must enforce stronger safety tools and privacy protections, ensure real-time content moderation, and provide accessible reporting channels for young users.
Civil society and the media were also urged to amplify girls’ stories, promote digital rights education, and challenge harmful gender stereotypes.
WARDC encouraged families and communities to support girls’ education, digital engagement, and leadership aspirations.
“Parents, teachers, and community leaders must help create safe, inclusive spaces—online and offline—where girls can learn, express themselves, and lead without fear,” Akiyode-Afolabi said.
Reaffirming WARDC’s commitment to advancing girls’ rights, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi said the Centre envisions “a Nigeria where every girl is safe, valued, educated, and digitally empowered.”
“The future belongs to our girls—and we all have a duty to ensure they reach it free from violence, inequality, and exclusion,” she declared. “Let us act now to build a just and inclusive digital future where no girl is left behind.”
