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Summary
Investigative journalist and founder of Naija Feminists Media, Simbiat Bakare, has called for the urgent need for legal reform for the protection of women’s rights. She said this during her appearance on Just Africa on Souq News Television while discussing gender-based violence.
Investigative journalist and founder of Naija Feminists Media, Simbiat Bakare, has called for urgent legal reforms to facilitate justice for gender-based violence survivors. She said this during her appearance on Just Africa on Souq News Television on November 4, 2025, where she discussed the state of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
The programme, titled Community Gatekeepers Shaping the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence in Africa, explored the persistent inequalities faced by women and girls and the urgent need for stronger systems to address abuse and injustice.
During the discussion, Simbiat explained that gender-based violence occurs when one gender holds power over another and uses that power to inflict harm. She referenced both the Ochanya case and her investigative report on surrogacy in Nigeria as real-life examples of how exploitation and violence are perpetuated against women within weak accountability structures.
Simbiat highlighted how perpetrators in the Ochanya case were allowed to go free while the victim’s guardian was imprisoned despite clear evidence. She stressed that judges must set aside personal, religious, cultural, or traditional biases when ruling on cases involving violence against women and girls.
She further noted that Nigeria’s justice system has repeatedly failed survivors, allowing perpetrators to go unpunished even when evidence exists. According to her, this calls for an urgent reform of legal processes to ensure protection and justice for women.
Simbiat also examined the deep-rooted patriarchal structures that fuel violence against girls and called for a shift in religious, cultural, and traditional practices that normalise or excuse such acts. She emphasised that Naija Feminists Media goes beyond reporting incidents by using data, statistics, and storytelling to drive advocacy and influence policy change on GBV.
Simbiat Bakare urged journalists to approach GBV stories with empathy and thorough research, noting that accurate and sensitive reporting can help shape public awareness and solutions.
“Through journalism, we can bring change by asking the right questions,” she said.
In addition to her appearance on Souq News Television, Simbiat has also featured on several notable media platforms, including West Africa Democracy Radio, Wazobia FM, Trust FM, Abuja Info, and Nigeria Police Radio, advocating for women’s rights.
