FUNAAB, UNILORIN Students Unite Against Gender-Based Violence

Student groups from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have initiated comprehensive campaigns against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) on their respective campuses under the Project Safe Zones initiative.
These campaigns follow intensive training sessions held between March 24 and 28, 2025, which were facilitated by the VARSH Foundation with support from the international organization Girl Up. The training engaged a total of 37 students across both institutions, providing them with essential knowledge and advocacy skills to combat SGBV within their campus communities.
Aworanti Salvation, Founder of VARSH Foundation and recipient of the Girl Up Project Award, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasized the project’s transformative goals: “This project is about more than just awareness, it’s about creating tangible change on the campuses. By training student advocates who can recognize warning signs and support their peers, we’re building a sustainable network that will continue promoting safety and respect even after the campaigns end.”
The initiative has received significant backing from student leadership at both institutions. Ganiyu Bukola, Assistant General Secretary of UNILORIN Students’ Union, and Alakoso Mariam, Vice President of the FUNAAB Students’ Union, have publicly endorsed and supported the campaigns on their respective campuses.
According to sources close to the project, the newly trained student advocates have already begun implementing awareness programs designed to educate the wider student population about identifying and preventing various forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
The Project Safe Zones initiative takes a proactive approach by focusing on prevention through education and advocacy rather than merely responding to incidents after they occur. This strategy represents a significant step toward addressing the pervasive issue of gender-based violence affecting university students across Nigeria.
Educational experts note that such student-led initiatives are crucial for creating lasting cultural change within academic institutions, particularly around sensitive issues like sexual harassment and assault that often go unreported in Nigerian universities.