Building a Safer Digital Future for Women and Girls
In a bold demonstration of commitment to protecting women and girls, the Borno State Women-Led Civil Society Organizations (BONWOC), led by the Executive Director of Life At Best Development Initiative (LABDI), Madam Ladi Clark, convened a strategic gathering today to spotlight the urgent issue of digital gender-based violence (DGBV).
The convergence was done in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and with strong support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). And it brought together a wide range of organizations under the BONWOC umbrella—and partners beyond it—each showing up with purpose and solidarity. Their participation reaffirmed a shared belief that women and girls deserve to be safe, empowered, and respected, both offline and online, across cities and rural communities alike.
More than just a meeting, the session ignited renewed energy and collective resolve. Participants left with a strengthened commitment to collaborate with government institutions, tech stakeholders, community leaders, and grassroots actors to combat technology-facilitated violence in all its forms.
Together, BONWOC and its partners are not just raising awareness—they are building a safer digital future where every woman and girl can thrive without fear.
The visit offered the delegation firsthand insight into how the PACT-LAB Project (Protecting Women, Children, and Youths Affected by Conflicts Through Local Actors in Borno State), led by Life At Best Development Initiative (LABDI), is positively transforming lives and strengthening community resilience.
During the visit, the team engaged directly with project participants across different age groups, listening to their stories and witnessing the tangible impact of our interventions.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Bama, (Dr.) Umar Kyari Umar El-Kanemi, whose continuous support and collaboration have been instrumental to the project’s success.
Beyond routine project monitoring, the visit served as a valuable learning and reflection platform for us at LABDI – helping us identify opportunities to further enhance the quality, inclusivity, and sustainability of our work.
We extend our deep appreciation to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria for their unwavering partnership and support, and to our technical partners, Terre des hommes foundation, for their consistent collaboration and commitment to shared humanitarian goals.
Together with partners like YOUTH INTEGRATED FOR POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (YIPDI), we continue to build pathways for sustainable impact across Borno State and beyond.