DSVA Raises Alarm Over Rising Cases of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Lagos
DSVA Raises Alarm Over Rising Cases of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Lagos
By Emmanuel Daniji
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has expressed concern over the growing threat of Technology-Facilitated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (TFSGBV), revealing that the agency has recorded 41 cases linked to the emerging trend across the state.
To address this worrying development, the agency on Monday organized a sensitization programme for secondary school students in Education District V, aimed at raising awareness and building digital responsibility among young people.
The event, themed “Technology and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)”, brought together over 100 students and teachers from Ojo Senior High School, Ojo Junior High School, Community Senior and Junior Secondary Schools, and Lagos State Senior and Junior Model College, Ojo. The session was coordinated in collaboration with the District Counsellor.
Representing the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Head of Community Engagement, Mr. Damilare Adewusi, stressed the urgent need for young people to understand the risks of online behaviour and the role they can play in curbing technology-driven abuses.
“As digital natives, you have both the power and the responsibility to use technology positively. Be ambassadors for safety and respect online,” Adewusi urged the students.
He highlighted various forms of technology-facilitated abuse, including cyberbullying, online grooming, image-based abuse, and digital harassment, explaining how perpetrators exploit social media and communication tools to violate privacy and dignity.
Students were also informed about the DSVA’s toll-free helpline, a confidential platform available for victims and witnesses to report incidents or seek professional support.
The interactive session featured engaging discussions, case studies, and practical safety tips designed to help students identify red flags and protect themselves from digital exploitation.
According to the agency, the sensitization campaign is part of the Lagos State Government’s renewed effort to enforce its zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence — whether physical, emotional, or online.
The DSVA reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the digital space remains a safe and inclusive environment for all, particularly for young people who are increasingly exposed to technology at an early age.
