Ford Foundation to First Ladies: use your influence to end Gender-Based Violence in West Africa
Regional Director for West Africa at the Ford Foundation, Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu, has called on First Ladies across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to leverage their unique
Regional Director for West Africa at the Ford Foundation, Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu, has called on First Ladies across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to leverage their unique “soft power” to accelerate action against gender-based violence (GBV).
The redirector described the first ladies’ influence as critical to shifting societal norms and strengthening accountability systems.
Dr. Chichi made the call while delivering a goodwill message at the ECOWAS First Ladies’ Forum on Zero Tolerance for GBV, held in Banjul, The Gambia, under the SWEDD+ platform in partnership with the World Bank and UNFPA.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Dr. Chichi noted that one-in-three women globally experience physical or sexual violence, with the situation further exacerbated in West and Central Africa by harmful practices such as child marriage, where over 30 per cent of girls are married off before attaining 18 in several countries.
She also underscored the economic impact, stating that GBV costs countries up to 3.7% of GDP, exceeding investments in key sectors like education.
“We have the frameworks. We have the commitments. But we do not yet have outcomes at scale,” she stated.
Despite regional adoption of instruments such as the Maputo Protocol and national GBV laws, she noted that survivors still face barriers in accessing justice, with systems often fragmented and inaccessible.
Read Also: FG, NCDC partner to transform North Central into mining powerhouse
Dr. Chichi, who admitted the First Ladies are not policymakers, said the enormous influence they wield remains pivotal.
Advertisement
300x250
“Across Africa, First Ladies have shaped priorities, shifted narratives, and moved governments to act. That is soft power and history shows how powerful it can be,” she said.
Mrs. Chichi cited the example of Maryam Babangida, whose Better Life for Rural Women Programme (1987) brought rural women into national development discourse and influenced economic empowerment initiatives.
She also referenced:
• Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Bio’s “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, which contributed to a national emergency declaration on rape in 2019
• Rwanda’s First Lady Jeannette Kagame’s sustained advocacy for adolescent girls’ health and protection.
“These examples show that soft power, when used intentionally, can move systems,” she added.
Dr. Chichi highlighted the Ford Foundation’s ongoing investments in strengthening GBV prevention and response systems across West Africa, particularly through collaboration with First Ladies and governors’ spouses platforms in Nigeria.
She listed key interventions to include:
• (2020–2022) advocacy efforts through the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre and Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum
• (2021–2023): Strengthening GBV evidence and response pathways across Edo, Ekiti, Abia, and Niger States
•(2025–2026): Supporting advocacy to address harmful social norms and increase state-level commitments
Advertisement
300x250
•(2022–2026): Advancing regional standards and coordinated GBV prevention frameworks across West Africa
“These are not just grants, they are investments in influence, in voice, and in the convening soft power of First Ladies,” she noted.
She stressed that laws and policies alone are insufficient without trust and accessibility.
“A law can exist, but if communities do not believe in it, it will fail. A system can be designed, but if it is not trusted, it will fail,” she said.
She highlighted the persistent silence among survivors, often driven by fear, stigma, and lack of trust in institutions.
“Breaking that silence requires more than policy, it requires visibility, empathy, and leadership,” she added.
Referencing recent regional efforts including the GBV Roadmap (2026–2028), legal scorecard and Joint Communiqué, Dr. Chichi acknowledged growing alignment among partners but stressed the need for implementation.
Advertisement
300x250
“Frameworks do not change lives. Influence does. Action does. Leadership does,” she stated, urging First Ladies to use their platforms to:
•Encourage survivors to speak safely
•Shift harmful societal norms
•Strengthen accountability and response systems
Dr. Aniagolu concluded with a strong call for collective action:
“No girl should grow up believing silence is her only option. And no woman should be denied justice because of where she lives.”
She reaffirmed the Ford Foundation’s commitment to supporting advocacy, strengthening systems, and amplifying the voices of women across the region.
“Your power may be soft but its impact is profound,” she said.
