Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi - The power woman tackling gender-based violence and rape in Lagos State

The Counter Narrative

In 2020, a staggering 47,000 women and girls lost their lives to domestic violence. Shockingly, this statistic translates to a tragic reality: a woman or girl is killed by a family member every 11 minutes.

This episode of Counternarrative features Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, a strong advocate who believes that every instance of domestic violence carries the potential for something even more tragic—murder. She passionately illustrates how gender-based violence (GBV) is deeply entwined with gender inequality, highlighting patriarchy as one of the chief instigators of this crisis.

Vivour-Adeniyi advocates for transformation through education, emphasizing the urgent need to educate boys in positive masculinity and to reorient young girls. Her goal is to dismantle the pervasive rape culture that perpetuates these atrocities.

This compelling episode exposes the crucial efforts of The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency as they work diligently to curb the rates of GBV. It's time to address these issues at their roots, to end the cycle of violence. Together, we can make a difference.

OUTLINE

00:00 - Introduction
01:52 - You had your secondary school education in France and tertiary education in England. But you came back to Nigeria to become a civil servant with the Lagos State Government. What was the driving force behind this decision?
03:58 - Tell us about your activism. Have you always felt a calling to be a public servant working to serve and empower the vulnerable in society?
08:56 - You have been with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency since 2014 when you served as the coordinator of the response team known as Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team. You’re now the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Lagos DSVA. Could you share with us the agency's key achievements, including statistics on reported cases, male to female ratio, and convictions, and discuss the role you’ve played in these accomplishments?
24:00 - What would you say are the most significant challenges you face heading such a sensitive and busy agency in Nigeria?
41:30 - A 2019 survey by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics found that 30% of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, while 68% have encountered emotional, economic, or sexual abuse. In your experience, what factors contribute to these high numbers in Nigeria?
48:50 - As someone doing crucial work at the Lagos DSVA, what are your thoughts on how we can reduce the instances of abuse in Nigeria? Is there anything specific that Lagos DSVA is doing that could serve as a model for other state governments?
59:50 - Many people mistakenly believe that sexual and gender-based violence is limited to physical harm that leaves visible scars. What's your take on this misconception?
01:04:22 - Lastly, do you have any advice for women currently in abusive situations?

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