Press Release Abuja, Nigeria July 16, 2026

MFN Holds Inaugural Steering Committee Meeting

The Male Feminist Network (MFN), powered by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), will hold its inaugural Steering Committee meeting on Friday, 17 July 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. The one-day meeting marks an important milestone in strengthening the governance, strategic direction, coordination, accountability, and sustainability of the Network's efforts to engage men and boys as allies in advancing gender equality and preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria. The meeting will bring together members of the MFN Steering Committee drawn from the Network's partner organisations across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. The diverse membership reflects the Network's commitment to a nationally representative, inclusive, and collaborative approach to promoting gender equality and social justice. The Steering Committee is expected to provide strategic leadership, policy guidance, and oversight for the implementation of the Network's programmes, while fostering stronger collaboration among partners working to challenge harmful gender norms, promote positive masculinities, prevent gender-based violence, and advance the rights and dignity of women and girls. According to the Project Lead of the Male Feminist Network Project, Victoria Oseyande Udoh, the inaugural meeting will provide an opportunity for members to deliberate on and adopt key governance and operational frameworks that will guide the strategic direction and implementation of the Network's activities. She noted that discussions will also focus on promoting positive masculinities, strengthening community engagement, advancing evidence-based advocacy, and fostering strategic partnerships to accelerate efforts towards preventing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality in Nigeria. “The inauguration of the Steering Committee is an important step towards institutionalising a coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable approach to engaging men and boys as partners in advancing gender equality. It will strengthen accountability, improve programme effectiveness, and deepen collaboration among stakeholders committed to ending harmful gender norms and practices,” she said. The inaugural Steering Committee meeting underscores the MFN's commitment to strengthening a coordinated national platform for engaging men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence and the promotion of gender justice. The Male Feminist Network (MFN), is a national network working with men and boys across Nigeria to challenge harmful gender norms, promote positive masculinities, prevent gender-based violence, and advance the rights and dignity of women and girls. The Network brings together partners and stakeholders from Nigeria's six geopolitical zones to promote collective learning, advocacy, community engagement, capacity strengthening, and strategic action for gender equality and social justice. Centre LSD remains committed to working with government institutions, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, and communities to build a society where women, girls, men, and boys can live free from violence, discrimination, and inequality. Through the MFN and other strategic initiatives, Centre LSD continues to contribute to Nigeria's national development priorities and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.

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