Osun Students Cautioned Against Tech Facilitated Gender Based Violence
…As stakeholders harp on responsible use of technology…
University Students from institutions in Osun State have been urged to shun all forms of digital violence capable of violating the fundamental rights of women and girls.
This appeal was echoed during the 2025 “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls” programme, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria in commemoration of 16 Days of Activism, held in Osogbo.
The event, attended by students from various tertiary institutions across the state, also featured legal practitioners and youth leaders.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Barrister Mrs. Abimbola Babatunde, represented by the Director of Gender, Ms. Lola Adewale, said violence is no longer limited to physical spaces but has now spread into social platforms and digital communities.
Highlighting forms of digital violence such as online harassment, cyberbullying, misuse of personal images and threats, Mrs. Babatunde said the impact on victims often affects their confidence, mental well-being and safety.
According to her: “At this ministry, we remain committed to creating safety for all, especially for women and children. We urge students to use technology responsibly, to think before they post, and to speak up when they see anyone being harassed online.”
She further encouraged students to use technology for learning and connection, not as a tool to harm one another.
During her presentation, Rev. Dr. Oluyamo, who holds a PhD in Yoruba Literature, described technology-enabled gender-based violence as “a crime against humanity,” stressing that cyberstalking, online dragging, unauthorised sharing of private content and other forms of digital abuse degrade human dignity.
“Our cyberspace should be used to promote growth, development and the dignity of the human person — men, women and children alike,” she said.
She urged the government to fully implement existing policies and encouraged victims of cyber-abuse to speak out.
This is a serious issue that must not continue to thrive in our society,” she added.
The Vice President of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union Government (OAU SUG), Comrade Falade Iyanuoluwa, stressed the need to sensitise secondary school students on digital safety, especially on the importance of protecting their private images at all costs.
She appealed to institutions and government agencies to collaborate on prevention strategies, reporting mechanisms and psychosocial support for student victims.
Barrister Kayode Titiloye, a member of the Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, emphasised the importance of legal awareness in combating digital abuse. He noted that many victims are unaware of their rights under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and called for stronger public education and timely prosecution of offenders.
Similarly, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Osun State Chapter, Comrade Akinbode Olakolupo, noted that young people are among the most affected by online harassment and misinformation. He called for more digital literacy programmes targeting youths to help them identify, resist and report online abuse.
According to him, empowering young people with the right knowledge is “critical to reducing the spread of harmful behaviour online.”
The representative of ActionAid Nigeria, Ms. Gladys Imoh, highlighted the organisation’s gender development efforts and commended participants for their commitment to becoming ambassadors against gender-based violence. She noted that the Ford Foundation-sponsored project focuses on preventing tech-facilitated GBV across selected Nigerian states.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Multistakeholders Action Committee on Prevention of Gender-Based Violence in Osun State, Oba Dr. Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin Aroyinkeye I, the Orangun of Oke-Ila — represented by the Osun NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Abisola Ariwodola — appreciated stakeholders for their passion toward ending GBV in the state.
The monarch stressed that women and girls have the right not to be harassed, abused or bullied. He advised university students to use their mobile phones responsibly and in compliance with the law, warning that misuse could bring them into conflict with legal authorities.