By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: In a landmark move to reshape the fight against gender-based violence, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has announced that over 3,200 Nigerian men have been certified as “feminist allies.”

The initiative, part of the Male Feminists Network MFN project, seeks to mobilize men as active participants in dismantling patriarchy and promoting gender equality across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Project Director of MFN and founding Executive Director of Centre LSD, emphasized that the initiative addresses a critical gap in gender advocacy.

“Patriarchy is produced, enforced and defended within male-dominated systems,” Dr. Igbuzor stated during a capacity-building session for women’s rights organizations.

He said patriarchy cannot be dismantled without men changing their beliefs, behaviours and use of power.

Dr Igbuzor clarified that the MFN does not seek to replace or overshadow existing women’s movements. Instead, it exists to support them by encouraging men to confront harmful masculinities and use their societal privilege to advance, rather than undermine, gender justice.

The MFN project, a two-year national initiative (2025–2027) funded by the Ford Foundation, has already achieved a global first: the launch of an online course dedicated exclusively to Male Feminism and GBV Prevention.

The digital platform has seen impressive engagement, with 8,552 total participants worldwide, 3,150 Nigerians successfully completing the course and earning certification, 52 Master Trainers deployed nationwide, as well as over 500 grassroots participants reached through step-down training in schools, faith institutions and civil society.

While celebrating the numbers, Dr. Igbuzor issued a note of caution regarding the nature of the allyship, stressing that male involvement must remain accountable to women-led organizations to avoid “hero complexes” or the dilution of feminist goals.

“Male allyship is necessary, but it is also risky. It must be governed by feminist leadership to ensure it strengthens, not weakens, women’s movements. The Male Feminists Network is not about creating heroes; it is about producing responsible partners”, he stated.

The centre noted that reports from across the country indicate a growing openness to feminist discourse among men who previously viewed the movement as “anti-male.”

The project has also successfully developed a national training manual on Male Feminism, specifically tailored to the Nigerian context for use by community and religious leaders.