By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi State Government has called for greater male involvement in the ongoing campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), stressing that sustainable progress in ending the menace cannot be achieved without the active participation of men and boys.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Barr. Ekwutosi Maryann Nkwegu, the government emphasized that the fight against GBV has reached a decisive point where inclusivity and shared responsibility are crucial for lasting change.
Nkwegu, in a statement titled “Advancing Male Inclusivity in Gender-Based Violence Awareness: A Call for Collective Action in Ebonyi State,” noted that while significant progress has been made in empowering women and girls, men must be part of the solution for true social transformation.
“GBV is not a women’s issue alone, it is a societal issue that demands collective action,” she stated. She highlighted the recent detention of Bishop Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, General Overseer of Champion Cathedral, Abakaliki, over alleged exploitation, as a reminder of the urgent need for reorientation on positive masculinity—stressing that real strength lies in empathy, respect, and responsibility.
According to Nkwegu, the Ebonyi State Government, under the leadership of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, is partnering with civil society organizations, traditional rulers, youth groups, and faith-based leaders to promote male inclusivity in GBV prevention and response.
Ongoing government initiatives, she said, include sensitization campaigns, community dialogues, male advocacy clubs, and mentorship programs designed to foster positive masculinity and shared responsibility in building safer homes and communities.
“Evidence has shown that when men are engaged, cases of domestic violence and abuse reduce significantly,” she added.
Nkwegu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building an Ebonyi where both men and women collaborate to end GBV, in line with the People’s Charter of Needs anchored on peace, equity, and social inclusion.
She further urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organizations, and the media to amplify the campaign for male participation, warning that “silence is complicity, while action is partnership.” Nkwegu concluded: “Together, we can build an Ebonyi where gender justice is not a privilege but a right, and where men and women stand side by side for a violence-free society.”