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Summary
On October 25, 2024, the DOHS Cares Foundation joined a memorial march in Lagos to honour the late Barrister Felicia Odu, a victim of domestic violence. The march also aimed to raise awareness about Nigeria’s alarming rise in femicide and call for stronger protection and justice for women and girls across the country.
On October 25, 2024, the DOHS Cares Foundation joined a memorial march organised by Barrister Olumide Omosebi of the Gnosis Help Initiative to honour the memory of the late Barrister Felicia Temitope Odu, a victim of domestic violence.
Barrister Odu, who was recently called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2025, was brutally beaten and strangled to death by her husband, Christopher Odu, in the presence of one of their sons. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, October 14, 2024, at Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The memorial walk, described as a transitional walk, took place along Sabo Road, Yaba. It drew a large crowd of lawyers, activists, and concerned citizens who gathered to mourn Barrister Odu and call attention to the rising cases of femicide in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Ololade Ajayi, founder of DOHS Cares Foundation and coordinator of the Femicide Observatory Programme, shared disturbing data indicating that a woman or girl is killed every 49 hours in Nigeria by an intimate partner. She noted that Barrister Odu was the 162nd documented victim of femicide in 2025, based on the Foundation’s tracking.
“The prevalence of femicide in Nigeria is alarming,” Ololade said. “It is not okay that the home has become one of the most dangerous places for women and girls.”
The march also served as a platform for public sensitisation. Participants carried placards and chanted messages urging women in abusive relationships to seek help, and calling on communities to stand against the silence and stigma surrounding domestic violence.
Barrister Omosebi, convener of the Gnosis Help Initiative, expressed deep concern over the lack of institutional frameworks to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable. He emphasised that religion must never be used as a justification for violence, and no one should be deceived into staying in a dangerous union under the guise of divine disapproval of divorce.
Also speaking at the event, Barrister Maureen Bolowotan, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ikorodu Branch, mourned the late Odu and stressed the importance of continuous awareness to help women recognise the early signs of abuse. She urged women to prioritise their safety above societal expectations or unsafe marriages.
The DOHS Cares Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to ending domestic violence and promoting the safety and well-being of women and girls across Nigeria.
