Hosts Morocco have included African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi in their 26-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, confident he will recover from an ankle injury in time to play.
There had been concern about the full back’s availability for the tournament, which kicks off on December 21, after suffering a severe sprain of his left ankle during Paris St Germain’s 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month.
Coach Walid Regragui had already expressed optimism that Hakimi would be available to captain the team in the opening match against Comoros in Rabat.
“He’s been working hard since his injury and doing what he has to do. He’s a hard worker. He wants to be there from the first match,” the Moroccan coach told French radio at the weekend.
Left out of the squad, but named as a reserve is Lille striker Hamza Igamane, who hurt his adductors playing against Olympique de Marseille last Friday.
Igamane has made a major impact in Ligue 1 and with the Morocco side and was expected to be a starter at the tournament for the hosts.
Perennial champions, Malcomines Polo Team along with Keffi Ponys, Fifth Chukker as well as 20 other polo teams will vie for honours in the 2025/2026 Jos Winter Polo Tournament which will hold between December 26 and January 2, 2026 at the popular General Hassan Polo Ground in Jos.
Organisers said that added allure to the tournament this year would be the third edition of a Charity event on Christmas Day to herald the prestigious tournament
Powered by the Plateau State Government alongside corporates like Malcomines as well as other corporate and individual sponsors, the festival promises to be one of the most exciting in decades. Reigning champions, Jos Malcomines, led by Murtala Laushi, tops a formidable lineup of teams that includes strong contenders from Kaduna, Kano Abuja, Bauchi, Yola and among others.
The week-long tournament traditionally draws participants from Polo teams across Nigeria and is taking place at the Hassan Katsina Polo field in Jos.
Other contenders are expected from Zaria, Minna, Maiduguri, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Abuja and Keffi with enough high-goal players and battle-ready ponies on hand for the contest.
Captain of Jos Polo Club (JPC), Yusuf Dauda , has assured that tourists and polo enthusiasts that the club will enjoy the best winter polo fiesta that will surpass previous editions.
Dauda, who is also one of the serving officials on the Management Committee of the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF), added that the tournament committee was working hard with all stakeholders and partners to deliver 2025 fiesta in grand style.
Chief Host and President of Jos Polo Club, Murtala Laushi who has been the biggest benefactor of the prestigious annual fiesta, confirmed that preparations are on for another Jos polo festival that promises to the biggest in years.
The 2025/2026 Jos international annual Polo tournament will feature the biggest patrons, foreign and the best of Nigerian players and teams as well as thousands of enthusiasts from within and outside the country.
“It is worth noting that the game Polo has for several decades now maintained its preeminent position as the leading catalyst for sports, recreation, peace and tourism in Plateau state, and Nigeria at large,” enthused the Jos polo boss who is also the NPF Secretary General.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that preparations have been concluded for the charity event that usually flags off the campaigns.
Secretary Jos Polo Club, Hassan Gashash , stated that the event would be hosted by the Jos Polo Club in conjunction with a non-governmental charity organization, Hands of Help for the Nigerian Grassroots Economic Regeneration (the HANGER Project) on Christmas Day, December 25.
A spokesperson of the HANGER Project, Alison Allanso also confirmed that the event will be an all -day of activities at the premises of the polo club, to put smile on the faces of the less privilege, orphans, Disabled persons, widows and the internally displaced persons from Jos and its environs in Plateau State.
She said: “We have been on this project for the past years and this year we are hoping to reach out to about four hundred Nigerians or more, mostly children and women whose livelihoods have been badly affected by the current hardship in the country.
“We thank all the donors for their support so far and also appeal to other well -meaning corporate organizations and individuals to come to the aid of the less privileged by donating to the project that would lift these unfortunate members of the society and give them hope during this festive period.”
Ex-Barca winger urges Super Eagles to go for big prize of Morocco 2025
Emmanuel Amuneke scored the brace that helped Nigeria claim a famous 2-1 win at the expense of Zambia at the 1994 African Cup of Nations- a moment he described as one of the unforgettable memories of his illustrious career. The former Barcelona winger and African Footballer of the Year said he was humbling about his profound success in what was only his first and only appearance as a player at the AFCON. Having also led Tanzania to feature at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt , Amuneke has urged the Super Eagles to brace for what would be an interest 35th AFCON in Morocco, writes MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN…
Emmanuel Amuneke, former Nigerian winger and 1994 African Footballer of the Year, fondly remembers scoring twice in the 2-1 final victory over Zambia at the 19th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
This win clinched Nigeria’s second AFCON title. Remarkably, this was his first and only appearance as a player in an AFCON tournament.
Amuneke in a file interview with our correspondent, said he grew up admiring Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON win and the gallant 1990 team that finished runners-up in Algeria after a heavy opening loss.
“My early memory about the Africa Cup on Nations was that the 1990 edition that Nigeria participated in Algeria,” Amuneke recalled. “The way the team came back from that 5-1 heavy loss to Algeria in their opening game and bounced back to play in the final where they lost by just 1-0 was inspiring.”
He continued: “ If you look at the players and over all set up of the team throughout the tournament, you would see a lot of potentials but at the end the day, the Super Eagles went all the way to the final.”
Led by Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof, Amuneke was particularly impressed by winger Friday Elahor’s performances in 1990, which inspired his own international ambitions.
“In that team we had some great players like Friday Elahor who was so exciting to watch with his strength and ability to dribble one -on-one and deliver good crosses to the strikers, he impressed me throughout the tournament ,” Amuneke noted.“ In fact, the way he (Elahor) played served at that AFCON in 1990 served as an inspiration to me and it was a very great privilege watching that AFCON and seeing such a player.
“His performance gave some of us the inspiration to play for our country ,Nigeria. That particular tournament made a huge impression on me and I could say that was the beginning of my love affair with the AFCON.”
But four years , the 1994 AFCON truly belonged to Amuneke.
Initially a bench player, Amuneke was patient and focused, eventually getting his chance in the final against Zambia. He delivered by scoring both goals that secured the championship. He attributes the team’s success to hunger, discipline, and determination.
“I was privileged to be part of that team that went to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 1994,” Amuneke recalled with glee . “That generation had a lot of great players in the squad and at the end of the day, players had to work their way to convince the coaches you can be counted upon at any given time.
“I was so happy after being listed in the squad going to Tunisia for the AFCON; it was a very great opportunity and privilege for me and am happy to be among those great players that represented Nigeria in Tunisia.”
He would recall his near frustration as he watched his teammates strut their stuffs yet he did not allow the obvious disappointment :“Of course, I was a bit sad not playing in any of the earlier games of the tournament.
“I thought I was going to start the tournament but unfortunately I wasn’t playing; at the same time, I was honest and realistic because we have a very great team.
“Those that are playing deserved to play too; I was not discouraged because I was focused and hoped t I would get my opportunity , which eventually came in the final match against Zambia.”
The Nigeria versus Zambia tie was the final match of the 19th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and was played in the Stade El Menzah in Tunis.
Regarded as one of the spectacular AFCON’s Final matches, that pitched the star-studded Super Eagles against the Zambians who were then just constituted following the 1993 air disaster in which eighteen players and several staff members from the previous team were killed.
Striker Elijah Litana will soon put the Zambians in the lead barely three minutes after Mauritius’ referee Lim Kee Chong signalled the start of the epic match. Amuneke responded with the equaliser two minutes after and completed his brace of the day in the 47th minute as Nigeria won her second title in a 2-1 finish .
“ You can say that again that the 1994 AFCON was one of the most important part of my career and the two goals against Zambia were also important,” noted Amuneke who also scored the Gold Medal match-winning goal when Nigeria defeated Argentina 3-2 to win Africa’s first soccer gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
He added: “Every player wants to win the AFCON but it is always a special feeling for that I won the AFCON in my first ever appearance and it was a very great privilege for me to have been in the team.
“ The AFCON comes every two years and It was important I took the opportunity when I was given the opportunity to play in the final match against Zambia; and it was pleasing that I was able to contribute the two goals that gave us victory and the second title for Nigeria after the first time in 1980.
“One of the factors that contributed to our success in 1994 was the fact that a lot of us were hungry and determined; we were also disciplined both on the field and off the field, we were hungry to make name for ourselves and our country.”
Now Technical Manager of Heartland FC, Amuneke cautions that despite being a “big brand,” Nigeria’s national team has struggled recently, including failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and being knocked out by hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the Final Match of the last AFCON.
On the eve of the 35th AFCON scheduled in Morocco (Dec 21, 2025 – Jan 16, 2026), where Nigeria is in Group C with Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia, Amuneke stresses the importance of clarity, meticulous preparation, and focus.
“Things will flourish and sometimes there will be difficult moments; and this also extends to the Super Eagles,” Amuneke recently told NationSport. “ Our national team is a big brand and a household name but the truth is they have been struggling.”
He believes the Super Eagles have the potential to win but acknowledges stiff competition from other African nations.
“The Super Eagles can win in Morocco but every nation going to Morocco also wants to win, so it depends on our level of preparation and how ready we are to compete with the rest of the continent,” concluded Amuneke who made AFCON history at the 2019 edition in Egypt when he led Taifa Stars of Tanzania to their second continental appearance since their debut in 1980.
The 35th TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 is scheduled to hold between December 21 and January 16, 2026; Nigeria is in a tricky Group C along with Tanzania, Uganda and Tunisia.
In line with the new vision of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the organisers of the annual Daniel Ford International Youth Invitational Table Tennis Championships have introduced a new U-12 category for the third edition of the competition holding from December 17 to 20, at the Molade Okonta-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Since its inception in 2023, the tournament has featured U-15 and U-19 events. The addition of the U-12 category is designed to allow cadet players to showcase their talent and be considered by national handlers for future development.
Chairman of Daniel Ford, Yemi Edun, expressed delight at the progress of the championship.
“The tournament has been fantastic—it’s thrilling, engaging, and watching players’ progress to win bigger tournaments has been very encouraging. I’ve been quite pleased with how things have gone so far,” he said.
Organised in partnership with the NTTF, the championship has quickly become a fixture in Nigeria’s youth sports calendar, producing talents who now form the backbone of the national team.
In 2024, the organisers introduced a pre-tournament clinic to sharpen players’ skills and prepare them mentally and technically for competition, making the event more than just a contest.
“We hope this tournament revitalizes our pipeline for elite-tier players. In sports, early mastery is crucial—some say by age 13, you should already be on the path. Nigeria, being the largest Black nation on earth, has immense talent to tap into. I fully envisage a future within the next seven years where Nigeria leads Africa in table tennis,” Edun added.
NTTF President, Adesoji Tayo, praised the impact of the Daniel Ford tournament in identifying home-grown stars who now form the bulk of Nigeria’s senior national teams.
“Most of the players who featured in the Daniel Ford tournament are now part of our national teams for men and women. Our new female team is largely made up of products of this competition. Events like this complement the federation’s efforts in talent discovery, and it is left to us to nurture them to stardom. Personally, I want to thank Mr. Yemi Edun for his genuine interest in table tennis and for the initiatives that have made this tournament a success annually. We look forward to another exciting edition as players eagerly anticipate the opportunities attached to the event.”
With the inclusion of the U-12 category, the Daniel Ford International Youth Invitational Table Tennis Championships continues to expand its reach, offering young athletes a pathway to national and international recognition.
More than just a competition, it has become a talent pipeline, a training ground, and a visionary platform for the future of Nigerian table tennis.
Former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has been enlisted by MILO Nigeria along with a new group of influencers to strengthen its long-standing connection with consumers in Northern Nigeria.
Aside Musa, other drafted influencers include Mansurah Isah, actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and social impact advocate; Ali Jita, songwriter and musician; Sulaiman Yahaya (popularly known as Bosho), Kannywood actor and comedian Anita Asuoha (Real Warri Pikin)-who has renewed her contract as a member of the MILO family.
Speaking on the new partnerships, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, Category Manager, Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, emphasized the brand’s commitment to inclusivity.
“This partnership reflects our dedication to ensuring that every Nigerian child experiences the nourishment, energy and possibilities that MILO represents. By working with creators who authentically reflect their communities and whose values align with ours, we are celebrating the bonds MILO has built with families across Nigeria in the most inclusive and meaningful way.”
During their induction, the influencers went on an immersive factory tour to get first-hand information on MILO’s key ingredients, including cocoa, milk and sorghum, which is 100% sourced in Northern Nigeria.
They had the opportunity to see how these ingredients are transformed into the final product through cocoa roasting, milk blending, and malt preparation. Their reports confirmed that the visit highlighted MILO’s dedication to quality, nutrition, hygiene and food-safety standards.
Reflecting on the experience, Mansurah Isah said: “Seeing how MILO is made gave me a new level of respect for the brand. I was particularly impressed by the level of hygiene maintained throughout the process. The thoroughness, the quality checks at every stage were remarkable. It made me even prouder to take this journey with MILO.”
The signing ceremony took place at the Nestlé Head Office in IIupeju, Lagos, where the influencers engaged with employees and shared their personal reflections on joining the MILO family.
Ahmed Musa spoke about his excitement, highlighting MILO’s significant impact in communities across Northern Nigeria.
“What stands out for me is how MILO invests in young people. From sports to school activities, you see the brand’s impact everywhere. I’m excited to use my platform to inspire even more children across the North,” he said.
For Sulaiman Yahaya (Bosho), the opportunity to partner with a brand that consistently supports youth development was a key motivator. “MILO has been part of our lives for years. To now be part of this journey is something special,” he shared.
From the MILO Basketball Championship to Building Champs and other school-driven programs, MILO continues to nourish children, support communities, and inspire a generation to grow stronger through active and healthy living.
Elias Schulze, the General Manager of Professional Fighters League (PFL), has enthused that fans should brace for one of the most exciting nights of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) on the continent as the inaugural PFL Africa Finals holds next Saturday, December 20th.
Set for the iconic Sofitel Dome in Cotonou, Benin, the PFL Africa Finals will feature 12 fights with four of those matchups having title implications. Among the 24 fighters from 12 different countries are four Nigerians including Wasi Adeshina (Featherweight title contender), Juliet Ukah, Cornel Thompson and Miracle Andrew.
Speaking during a virtual press conference on Tuesday, December 9, Schulze opened up about the fighters, the host city and what the future of PFL Africa.
Schulze had high praises for PFL Africa Chairman, Francis Ngannou, calling him a “magnificent partner” whose presence has been felt throughout the league’s debut season. According to him, Ngannou’s journey continues to motivate fighters across Africa, who regularly point to his rise from Cameroon to global champion as proof that the impossibility is nothing.
Schulze added that Ngannou is expected to attend the finale in Benin.
Reflecting on the season, Schulze said the athletes had exceeded expectations. He believes that many of these fighters can go head-to-head with fighters from the United States or Europe. He also stated that some of them have fought in Europe, American and Asia and he also believes that they can compete globally, adding the level of talent on display proves that Africa has world-class athletes ready to shine on any stage.
On why PFL Africa chose Benin for the finals, Schulze said the answer goes beyond logistics. He pointed to the country’s strong cultural identity, its history of combat traditions and the leadership shown by its sports and tourism sectors. Partnerships with the EYA Centre, EYA Foundation, and government ministries also played a major role.
“Everything just connected,” he said.
As for the show itself, Schulze promised non-stop action featuring 12 fights and 24 athletes chasing the $100,000 championship prize. He spoke about major clashes such as South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele versus Algeria’s Karim Henniene, and Justin Clarke taking on Côte d’Ivoire’s Abraham Bably. He believes these fighters have the potential to become “local heroes” whose stories inspire young people across the continent.
Pressed if Cameroon could host a PFL Africa event soon, Schulze hinted that it’s very possible. He said his outfit is in discussions with several countries and plans to take events across all regions — from West Africa to North Africa and beyond, adding Cameroon, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are among the destinations being considered.
“Africa is open for business and PFL Africa wants to bring top-tier MMA to every corner of the continent,” he added.
Mohamed Salah will feel like he is letting down 50 million people in Egypt by having his role reduced at Liverpool, according to ex-Egypt striker Mido, who believes the forward must move to the Saudi Pro League.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, the ex-Tottenham striker, who won the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, reflected on his own career to explain Salah’s Anfield predicament and also believes Jamie Carragher was wrong to criticise Salah.
“I’ve been in this situation before. When the Liverpool game is on, all of Egypt are there in front of the TV waiting for Salah to play, waiting for him to score a goal. They all feel that their son is playing today in the best league in the world. They are proud of him.
“This puts him under so much pressure to play and to be involved. He’s not a regular guy. He’s the king here in Egypt. People have to understand that.
“It was the same for me when I was playing for Tottenham, for example. All of Egypt was waiting for the game. All of Egypt were sitting there in the coffee shops waiting for me to play today. They were proud of me. They are proud of Salah. And this puts you under pressure. I’ve been in this situation.
“Sometimes I didn’t accept to sit on the bench, and I was really frustrated. Not because I’m arrogant. Not because I felt that I was bigger than the club, but because I know my people back home are waiting for me.
“There are more than maybe 40 or 50 million people waiting for the game, so if I’m not playing, I let them down. This is how I felt.
“So it’s the same for Salah, but 10 times more than me because Salah has achieved much more than me in the game.
“I think he should leave. I think it’s time for him to leave.
“If you lose this confidence with the manager, it’s hard to be fixed. But if he leaves, he must leave from the big door, if you know what I mean. He’s done so much for Liverpool. He’s a legend.
“I totally disagree with Jamie Carragher’s comments on the situation. Jamie Carragher is a legend for Liverpool, and he played the game and he should know more.
“He should know that football players sometimes they get emotional and then when they retire, sometimes they also regret it. We’ve all been into these situations.
“I expected Liverpool legends also to protect Salah a little bit. He’s maybe one of the best three or four players that ever played for Liverpool. He deserves more respect from the Liverpool legends, especially Jamie Carragher.”
Lagos State’s plan to decommission dumpsites is laudable, but…
Landfills have always served as plagues in a modern city, seen for a long time as inconveniences that cannot be avoided.
Not anymore. That is what is informing the decision of the Lagos State government to begin the decommissioning of two major landfills in the metropolis.
“Conversations around the future of the Olusosun and Solous 3 sites have featured consistently at various levels, including meetings with the governor and deliberations at the Executive Council,” announced the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
These two landfills have been eyesores to the residents for long. When they were commissioned, they sat away from the epicentre of activity. It was seen as an acceptable nuisance. The city grew into them a long time ago, and they have posed dangers to health and safety, as well as the aesthetics of a modern environment.
It is a constant scene of scavengers who are seen there foraging for “diamonds in the rough,” a stark metaphor of urban poverty and desperation.
Because of the piles of death, they emit odours that engender discomfort. More importantly, they spread germs and viruses into the air and lungs of locals. That means a constant visit to hospitals for those who live and work in the vicinity. This is a cost to manpower and welfare of citizens.
Occasionally they have to be burned and this sends fumes that compromise clean air quality and discolour the environment, depositing unwanted toxins, which is one of the industrial society’s complaints about encroachment in the ozone layer.
The locations of these sites have created traffic problems with the parking of trucks. “This place is clean, and we must maintain order. The alternative exit route previously used will also be reconsidered to ease traffic flow until the full decommissioning is completed,” Wahab said.
“It has become necessary for us to come here and conduct a physical assessment, especially as we prepare to open new landfill locations in Badagry, Ikorodu, and Epe,” he added.
The proposed new sites are regarded as out of the city centre, but so were the present ones now set for decommissioning. Part of the reason is the ballooning population of Nigeria’s biggest city. Lagos continues to welcome new settlers every day, and that has an implication for more waste. This will task the facilities and especially the imaginations of policy makers.
“Part of our agreement is that once operations begin at the material recovery facility, the decommissioning and capping of the Olusosun site will start immediately, following global standards,” he explained.
Global standards call for new technologies. The commissioner has promised that the new landfills will not be as stark as the old. “Only a very small fraction of the waste stream will eventually reach the landfill,” he assured. “The new facilities will operate with modern safeguards to prevent the problems of the past.”
Whatever the vision of the government, it should be a well-calibrated decision, including a waste-to-wealth programme. The commissioner said decommissioning the landfills will be done with a private firm, known as Zoom Lion, and that suggests that a lot of thought is going into it.
Eighteen months is not a long time, but the sooner the better. The great danger is the number of citizens who must have suffered from and still grapple with the fumes and dirt of the landfills.
Lagos generates 6,500 tonnes of waste a day; according to the Lagos State government, Olusosun gets 2,500 a day and Solous III accommodates 1,500 a day. It is modern dirt, and it requires a modern solution.
A 13-year-old girl at the centre of a child marriage in Enugu deserves justice
For 13-year-old Amarachi of Amufie village in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, the state government has saved her from what would have been a traumatic future as a child-bride. She was recently rescued through the power of social media, after an alleged whistle-blower posted details of her illegal marriage, which quickly went viral.
The outrage expressed online about this ill-fated marriage to a 30-year-old man prompted the state government, through the Commissioner for Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Ngozi Eni, to order the arrest of the parents of the bride and groom, the groom and the alleged match-maker who is described as a native doctor, one Mrs Patience.
We commend the state government for acting expeditiously to rescue the girl from this adult conspiracy. We are, however, outraged that this obnoxious act of marrying out a minor to a 30-year-old man was justified by the groom’s mother who said he is her only son.
According to the Child Rights Act signed by Nigeria and many other UN member countries, a child is defined as anyone younger than 18 years of age. The law protects children’s rights across Nigeria. Every child has rights that must not be violated: rights to life, basic education, freedom of religion. The law prohibits child marriage, child labour, any form of discrimination, harm and exploitation.
The fact that Amarachi has no basic education must be interrogated because education at the basic level is free. Why did the parents not put her in school? Already, Nigeria has a huge number of out-of-school children, possibly one of the highest in the world. The parents must be held accountable for such negligence. We commend the state government, which will henceforth take care of her.
We recognise that it is a national issue. Child marriage, especially in the Northern region, is a developmental problem and UN agencies and other development agencies across the world have all been pointing to the serious effects of child marriage on national development. Child marriage is generally seen as one of the road blocks to development in any country that allows it.
Child marriage stunts the development of girls. They miss out on education in a 21st century world where technology and ideas rule. Countries that value human development set age limits below which a girl should not be forced or coerced into marriage. When there are child marriages, distortions to reproductive systems occur, for instance.
Many diseases and disabilities afflict child brides if they survive. Nigeria has the world’s highest victims of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) and most of the victims are child brides. Many child brides develop cervical cancer and psychological trauma because of experiences they are forced into. In most cases, there are no healthcare facilities to handle these problems which often result in the victims being abandoned to suffer while the so-called male partners go on to marry more child brides and the cycle continues.
While we commend the Enugu State government for weighing in, annulling the marriage and arresting the perpetrators of this illegality, we must point out that implementation and accountability make laws functional. Gender development issues lack the requisite attention from governments. Child marriages and illiteracy across the country are not treated as priorities by all tiers of government.
The Amarachi case is a mere metaphor for what many girls go through in the country. Many rape and incest cases are often handled poorly by law enforcement agencies who often persuade victims to go and settle as ‘family matters.’
Being signatories and domesticating laws, UN Treaties and Acts are good but countries and states must ensure strict implementation. That is the only deterrent. Addressing single case issues cannot solve problems like child marriage and other issues that affect girl child development. The case in view is child marriage but the education ministry is silent on the fact that a 13-year-old is completely illiterate.
We expect that all aspects of this illegality will be addressed to deter future perpetrators.
Sir: Gender based violence affects everyone, and the numbers prove it. According to national surveys, one in three Nigerian women has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Research also shows that one in ten Nigerian men has experienced emotional or physical abuse, though many never speak out due to shame and cultural expectations. And according to the National Human Rights Commission, more than 25,000 gender based violence cases have been officially recorded between 2020-2022, yet these numbers represent only a fraction of the reality, as countless survivors remain silent. Statistics reveal the size of the problem, but lived experiences reveal its depth.
Gender based violence appears in subtle, everyday ways: a partner checking a woman’s phone obsessively and calling it “love”; a man being mocked, insulted, or controlled but told to “be a man”; a girl touched inappropriately in public; a boy shouted into silence; a woman forced to hand over her earnings; a man physically harmed but too embarrassed to report it. These small wounds, repeated across thousands of homes, slowly weaken the emotional foundation of a nation.
The path forward requires honesty and courage. Nigeria needs support systems that protect everyone! Women, men, boys, and girls with safe, trusted ways to seek help. Children must learn emotional intelligence early, so boys understand that expressing feelings is not weakness and girls understand that boundaries and dignity are their right. Men and women must be encouraged to seek counselling without shame. Harmful gender expectations must be challenged wherever they appear. Communities must stop looking away, because silence often fuels danger. And gender based violence laws must be enforced consistently and transparently, so protection is not just written on paper but lived in practice.
Nigeria is not without laws, but laws mean little when they are not enforced. The Child Rights Act (2003) guarantees the protection of every Nigerian child from all forms of violence, abuse, and neglect. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) outlaws physical, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse, yet many states have been slow to implement it fully. Some states, like Lagos, Ekiti, and Enugu, have domestic violence laws, but gaps remain in enforcement, funding, awareness, and accessibility. Laws on their own cannot save lives; only the courage to enforce them can.
True peace begins at home. Until homes become places of safety, the nation will continue to struggle with hidden instability. Gender based violence harms women deeply, but it also harms men, boys, girls, families, and the country’s future. A generation cannot grow strong if children are raised in fear. A nation cannot be stable if its households are unsafe. Gender based violence is not a side issue; it is a national warning.
