By Samson Adeyanju
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has declared an all-out war against gender-based violence (GBV), condemning in strong terms the culture of silence that has allowed the abuse of women and girls to thrive across Nigerian communities.
Speaking at the launch of the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, CAN President, His Eminence, Archbishop (Dr), Daniel C. Okoh, delivered a powerful message urging Christian leaders to rise above indifference and use their influence to defend the vulnerable.
“The church must not be silent when women are being brutalized in their homes and communities,” Archbishop Okoh said. “Men and women of God must speak out. We must not be indifferent when girls are denied education, dignity, or protection.”
The initiative, launched under the theme “Christian Leaders’ Response to Violence Against Women and Girls”, is supported by the Ford Foundation and the Widows and Orphans Empowerment Organisation (WEWE).
It aims to mobilize churches across Nigeria to take concrete steps in tackling GBV through advocacy, training, and survivor-centered support systems.
According to Archbishop Okoh, the Nigerian church can no longer turn a blind eye to the suffering of victims of abuse.
He cited Isaiah 1:17, calling on Christian leaders to follow the biblical command to “defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”
CAN’s intervention will include training clergy to identify and respond to abuse, raising public awareness about the devastating impact of gender-based violence, and working to ensure survivors receive proper support while perpetrators are held accountable.
“This project is a moral and spiritual duty. Our pulpits must become platforms for justice.
“We will not allow the culture of silence and shame to destroy lives anymore,” he declared.
Okoh further called for stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect women and girls, emphasizing that the church must lead by example in the fight for justice and dignity.
He concluded with a prayer that the project will spark true transformation within the church and across Nigeria, promoting a society where women and girls are safe, valued, and empowered.
