WARIF Intensifies Campaign To Combat Sexual, Gender-based Violence

In response to the rising cases of sexual violence in the country, the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) has expanded its WARIF Educational School Programme (WESP) to combat sexual violence and empower secondary school girls.

LEADERSHIP checks revealed that through this initiative, WARIF has reached over 4,500 girls across three geopolitical zones, equipping them with knowledge to identify, prevent, and respond to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

To this end, WARIF is collaborating with Sony Music to extend WESP to two senior secondary schools in Oyo and Ogun. Key activities include stakeholder engagement, baseline surveys, in-class training, peer-to-peer activities, parent-teacher forums, and program evaluations.

The founder of WARIF, Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, in an interview with journalists on Monday in Lagos, said WESP educates female adolescents in senior secondary schools on recognising sexual assault, self-protection strategies, and preventive measures, adding that this specially designed curriculum ensures participants gain crucial insights into addressing these challenges.

“The in-class sessions, conducted over four days in each school, follow a structured curriculum divided into four modules: “My Body and I,” “What is Abuse?” “Unmasking the Abuser” and “Steps to Reporting Abuse,” she added.

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Running from February to November 2025, the founder disclosed that the programme would impact 360 students across the selected schools. Evaluations have shown notable improvements, including increased discipline, better hygiene, greater awareness of bodily changes, and a more composed demeanour among students.

DaSilva-Ibru, however, reiterated that WARIF remains committed to eradicating gender-based violence by educating and empowering young people, fostering a safer and more inclusive society.