Women’s rights advocates, gender specialists and entrepreneurs gathered in Kano on Saturday for a trade fair marking the 2025 global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), aiming to draw attention to rising cases of abuse and promote women’s economic empowerment.
The event was organised by the Society for Women Development (SWODEN), the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) and the Government of Canada.
Hadiza Shehu Abdullahi, speaking at the opening, said the theme of this year’s campaign highlights the urgency of tackling GBV, which she described as a global public health and human rights crisis. She said physical, emotional, sexual and economic violence continue to be fuelled by unequal power relations and harmful cultural norms.
SWODEN Chairperson Maimuna Yakubu Muhammad said this year’s commemoration comes amid growing concerns over online abuse, with social media becoming a major platform for misinformation, harassment and harmful behaviour targeting women.
She said the trade fair sought to raise awareness while supporting women-led enterprises, noting that economic empowerment remains critical to reducing women’s vulnerability to abuse.
“Economic empowerment gives women the confidence and resources to resist and overcome violence,” she said, listing poverty, low education and weak parental guidance as key drivers of GBV.
Women-led businesses, including Zaguji Oil Mills, L & Z Integrated Dairy Farm and Alli Agro Mairo, were among exhibitors at the fair.
AECF Gender Specialist Hauwa Umar said the foundation participated to strengthen awareness among young girls and encourage collective efforts against GBV. She noted that social media had become a hotspot for harassment, adding that digital violence was now a global concern.
Umar said AECF would continue partnering with local groups to challenge harmful norms and expand community education. “We also encourage women to become economically independent. Self-reliance is one of the strongest shields against abuse,” she said.
Rukayya Lawal, HR Manager at The Seed Project Company, praised AECF’s support to women farmers and agribusiness owners. She urged more women to explore agricultural opportunities as a pathway to financial stability.
L & Z Gender Officer Nana Aisha Bello said the event also featured sessions on digital safety and business visibility. “Improving digital literacy is essential for growth in today’s business world. Women need both safety and presence online,” she said.
Participants closed the event with renewed calls for stronger awareness, greater community participation and expanded empowerment initiatives aimed at reducing GBV and supporting women and girls across Nigeria.
