This report captures the milestones, challenges, and transformative impact of the Side by Side Movement for Gender Justice in Nigeria, a faith-rooted initiative aimed at challenging gender inequality through theological advocacy, capacity building, and interfaith mobilization.
Spanning six months, the project focused on strengthening the role of faith and traditional leaders in countering gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices. It featured a robust campaign that combined deep theological reflections with grassroots engagement, resulting in the training of 84 religious and traditional leaders across Nigeria’s North West and South West regions.
Major accomplishments include the development of context-specific sermons addressing issues such as girl-child education, female genital mutilation, child marriage, inheritance rights, and women’s political participation. A national symposium further galvanized the commitment of key stakeholders—including FOMWAN, CAN, JNI, and WOWICAN—to integrate gender justice into religious messaging and governance.
The report outlines key outcomes: improved scriptural understanding of gender justice, increased advocacy by male faith leaders, and stronger collaboration between faith-based institutions and community groups. Despite challenges such as COVID-19 disruptions and funding limitations, the movement laid a critical foundation for scaling a national interfaith response to gender inequality.
This publication is essential for policymakers, faith-based organizations, donors, and advocates committed to leveraging religious influence to promote gender equity and dismantle harmful cultural norms across Nigeria.