By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: Director General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre CLTC, Rinsola Abiola, has issued a strong call for digital responsibility as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the commencement of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

In a statement issued on Wednesday to mark the global observance, Abiola said the CLTC fully aligns with this year’s theme, “UNITE! To End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” stressing that the shift of abuse into online platforms has created new and dangerous vulnerabilities for women and girls.

She described the campaign as a timely reminder that violence is no longer confined to physical spaces but now thrives in the digital environments where millions of Nigerians work, learn and connect.

Abiola warned that digital violence, ranging from cyberbullying and online harassment to hate speech and the non-consensual circulation of intimate content, is eroding women’s dignity and forcing many out of public participation.

“Digital violence is a profound failure of citizenship. It silences women’s voices, threatens their sense of safety and undermines the health of our democracy. Responsible citizenship in the 21st century must extend into the digital realm”, she declared.

Restating the Centre’s mandate of grooming responsible citizens and future leaders, the CLTC boss said leadership today must recognize the digital space as a critical arena for influence and protection.

“True leadership is power used for protection. The misuse of digital platforms to intimidate or demean others contradicts the values of discipline, patriotism and empathy that we instill in young Nigerians”, said Abiola.

She emphasized that the Centre is committed to cultivating young citizens who “build safe, inclusive digital communities, not contributors to digital decay.”

Outlining CLTC’s next steps in the fight against digital gender-based violence, Abiola listed key initiatives, including the deeper integration of digital citizenship and ethics into the Centre’s curriculum, sustained advocacy to curb the impunity associated with online abuse, and stronger engagement with technology stakeholders to advance online safety and promote protective laws and policies.

She called on young Nigerians, who form the majority of the country’s online population, to become active allies by rejecting harmful content, encouraging respectful engagement and helping to build a safer digital ecosystem for women and girls.

“As we observe these 16 Days, let us unite to end digital violence and build a future where every woman and girl can participate fully and without fear,” she said.

The 16 Days of Activism – a worldwide annual campaign – runs from November 25 to December 10 and is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.