Men-only town hall meeting holds today
Media and communication expert, Emmanuel Olonade, has said Nigeria’s Men-Only Townhall Meetings have evolved into a cultural movement aimed at ending violence against women and girls through accountability and value
Media and communication expert, Emmanuel Olonade, has said Nigeria’s Men-Only Townhall Meetings have evolved into a cultural movement aimed at ending violence against women and girls through accountability and value reorientation among men.
Olonade, who has participated in previous editions, described the initiative as “a cultural roadmap to ending violence against women and girls,” noting it creates safe spaces for men to have honest, reflective conversations on responsibility, family and protection of vulnerable groups.
The sixth edition of the Men-Only Townhall Meeting is scheduled to hold today at the Lagos Conference and Exhibition Centre (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja, where traditional rulers, religious leaders, policymakers and male stakeholders are expected to gather for focused discussions on ending violence against women and girls.
The meeting with the theme: “A Cultural Roadmap to Ending Violence against Women and Girls,” will begin at 10am with participants expected to engage in candid conversations, share community-driven solutions and strengthen commitments towards promoting responsible masculinity, safeguarding families and addressing gender-based violence.
According to Olonade, the town halls bring together traditional rulers, religious leaders, policymakers and young men, who set aside titles to engage in “raw, unfiltered discussions that challenge harmful norms and redefine masculinity as responsible, protective and accountable.”
“The outcomes from previous engagements have gone beyond dialogue to include community-based structures such as gender-based violence (GBV) reporting systems, public pledges by men, and stronger collaboration with local institutions,” he said
Olonade added that the initiative has also prioritised mentorship for young boys, stressing that “change must be taught early through positive role models and deliberate cultural reorientation.”
The town hall is an initiative of Women Radio WFM 91.7, in collaboration with the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, with support from the Ford Foundation.
Stakeholders say the Lagos meeting will further strengthen the growing movement that has spread across communities in Ogun and Lagos states, where men are increasingly taking responsibility for driving social change from within.
