Lagos Takes Fight Against Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence to Schools

…As State Records 41 Cases of TFSGBV

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has recorded 41 cases of Technology-Facilitated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (TFSGBV) — a rising concern that underscores the urgent need for preventive education and digital vigilance.

As part of proactive efforts to curb this trend, the Agency on Tuesday embarked on a comprehensive sensitization programme for secondary school students, focusing on the emerging challenge of Technology-Facilitated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (TFSGBV).

The event, themed “Technology and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV),” engaged over one hundred students from District 5. Participating schools included Ojo Senior High School, Ojo Junior High School, Community Senior and Junior Secondary School, and Lagos State Senior and Junior Model College, Ojo. The students attended alongside their teachers and the District Counsellor.

Representing the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Head of Community Engagement, Mr. Damilare Adewusi, highlighted the pressing need for digital responsibility among young people. He urged students to become ambassadors of online safety, spreading awareness within their schools and communities to combat technology-driven sexual and gender-based abuses.

“You are the generation that lives online — make it safe, make it humane, and make it purposeful,” Adewusi said, urging students to use their voices to promote respect and empathy across digital spaces.

The session was both interactive and educational, equipping students with vital knowledge on the various forms of Technology-Facilitated SGBV, including cyberbullying, image-based abuse, online grooming, and digital harassment. A major focus of the event was promoting the DSVA’s toll-free helpline as a confidential channel for victims to report incidents and access support.

This advocacy initiative reaffirms the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance stance on all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including those perpetrated through technology. It further demonstrates the DSVA’s sustained commitment under the THEMES Plus Agenda to building safer digital and physical spaces for all residents.