The Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) hurts more than just the victim,it damages society. The effects are devastating on the individual, family and the larger society. Report shows that 1 in 3 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15. Similarly, The Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 found that 9 percent of women aged 15 to 49 had suffered sexual assault at least once in their lifetime and 31% had experienced physical violence. These stats and many more about GBV depicts how much this menace ravages the society. 

In Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State. Many people endure abuse without speaking up. They hide their suffering behind fake smiles, held-back tears, and quiet talks that no one seems to notice. But let's be clear: GBV doesn't just harm one person. It spreads like a disease tearing families apart and eating away at the community's core.

We need to ask ourselves: When will we stop looking the other way?

Effect on the Individual: The main character

GBV survivors face more than a past event, they fight an ongoing battle with its consequences. The trauma penetrates every part of their lives impacting their mental, emotional, and physical health.

• Emotional Devastation: Fear, shame, and feelings of helplessness take over their lives. Many struggle with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with memories of their trauma haunting them. Research confirms that gender-based violence remains one the top three challenging problems associated with mental health problems. This makes survivors often feel isolated, misunderstood, and sometimes even responsible for what happened to them.

• Physical Consequences: GBV often leads to serious injuries, problems with reproductive health, and ongoing medical issues. Some survivors end up with lasting disabilities, which serve as constant reminders of the violence they faced.

• Loss of Opportunities: Many victims have to quit school, lose their jobs, or become reliant on those who hurt them. Their hopes for the future vanish replaced by the daily fight to stay alive.

How can we expect them to get better when they're left to deal with their hurt by themselves?

Impact of Gender Based Violence on the Family

When GBV hurts one family member, everyone in the house feels its effects. Kids, brothers and sisters, moms and dads, and partners all go through the fallout.

• Kids as Quiet Observers: Research indicates that children from abusive households have a higher chance to develop emotional and behavioral problems. Some kids bottle up the trauma becoming shy and scared. Others act out copying the violence they've witnessed, keeping alive a pattern that should have ended.

• Broken Bonds: Trust crumbles. People who've lived through abuse often find it hard to connect with those close to them either because they're scared or feel ashamed. Family members, not sure how to lend a hand, might pull away instead of offering help.

• Economic Strain: When a survivor can't work because of physical or emotional trauma, it puts the family's finances at risk. Medical costs, lawyer fees, and moving expenses can drive families who are already struggling into worse money troubles.

A family should offer safety, but for many survivors, it turns into another war zone.

The Community: A Society Getting Worse

GBV doesn't just hurt people. it makes whole communities weaker. Data shows that between 2017-2020, cases of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) received by the Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC) increased by 12% in Nigeria. As it spreads, it makes violence seem normal creating a place where people accept abuse instead of speaking out against it.

• Erosion of Social Trust: When people ignore or blame survivors, the public loses faith in protective systems. This stops others from asking for help letting violence continue without checks.

• Economic Losses: GBV burdens communities with lower work output higher health costs, and legal fees. When employees can't work due to trauma or injury, businesses take a hit.

• Weakened Social Structures: Unaddressed GBV affects schools, churches, and local groups. Violence against teachers, leaders, or caregivers limits their ability to shape the next generation.

A society that fails to protect its most vulnerable fails itself. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

How NBYF Stands Up against GBV in Akinyele Local Government

At the New Beginnings Youth Foundation (NBYF), we don't allow survivors to face their challenges alone. We know that people can heal—but only when we join forces to make it a reality.

Our mental health programs and support services for emotional well-being help survivors rebuild their lives. In Akinyele Local Government, we focus on:

• Creating Safe Spaces: We set up secure private areas where survivors can get counseling emotional backing, and advice on legal matters.

• Giving Survivors Power: We help survivors regain their money control and self-belief through programs to learn new skills and financial aid.

• Raising Community Awareness: We teach families and community heads about how GBV hurts people pushing for a society that stops it before it starts and holds people responsible.

The NBYF Treatment Center in Alabata

When trauma cuts deep, healing needs more than just talk—it calls for committed, expert care. This is why we built the NBYF Treatment Center in Alabata, a place of refuge where survivors receive:

• Full Mental Health Care: Our skilled therapists offer personal and group sessions to help survivors work through their experiences and take charge of their lives again.

• Complete Healing Approaches: We provide different healing methods, from art therapy to mindfulness training suited to each person's specific needs.

• Health and Legal Help: We give medical treatment for physical injuries and legal support to help survivors get justice.

• Recovery and Community Return Support: Our programs make sure survivors can rebuild their lives, whether they want to keep studying learn new skills, or reconnect with their communities.

The NBYF Treatment Center in Alabata stands as more than a building,it represents hope, strength, and a future without GBV.

Now is the Time to Act

How many more people must suffer before we treat GBV as a serious issue?

This problem belongs to all of us. We all share the duty to address it. Your help can rescue someone.

• Donate: Your money allows us to offer free therapy, housing, and legal help to those who've survived.

• Volunteer: Give your time, talents, or speak up to back our programs and community work.

• Team Up with Us: Groups, companies, and people can join forces with us to grow our reach.

All actions make a difference. Every voice matters. Each contribution brings optimism.

Support NBYF NOW!

Let's stop the pattern of GBV in Akinyele Local Government—as a community.