Role of Public Relations in Promoting Gender Based Violence among Women in Ikorodu, Lagos State
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Abstract
Strategic communication has been used extensively in the global and national campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV), but this scourge is one of the worst human rights and public health emergencies in Nigeria today. GBV, which takes place on the physical, psychological, and economic forms, continuously jeopardizes the safety and human rights of women. In the case of Lagos State, the gravity of this emergency is shown by the fact that more than 24,000 GBV cases have been recorded in the period from 2019 to 2023 in the Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA). Although public relations (PR) campaigns have extensively been used by both governmental and non-governmental bodies in addressing the issue, there is tremendous challenge when it comes to structural efficiency of these strategies in tackling violence in semi-urban, culturally conservative communities. In places such as Ikorodu, deeply seated patriarchal structures and gender power relations make violence an accepted practice that becomes a personal household issue rather than a criminal one. The basic issue that the study aims to address is the significant gap that exists between public awareness created through anti-GBV PR campaigns and reporting actions. From empirical findings in the Ikorodu community, the 'reporting gap' exists in that although about sixty percent of women in the community have knowledge about anti-GBV campaigns and above seventy percent witness and experience GBV, less than twenty-three percent of the women report these acts to the relevant authorities. The 'reporting gap' is sustained by socio-cultural inhibitors that include the fear of social stigma, religious and cultural pressures to maintain family pride, and lack of trust for state law enforcement authorities. Traditional, digitized, English-speaking, and alien PR practices are not effective tools for destroying barriers since they do not incorporate into the grass-root systems which regulate the lives of the people in Ikorodu. Concerning the issue of breaking down the communication barrier, the present research will be guided by the strong theoretical foundation including Gendered Power Relations Theory, which help to reveal the causes for silencing the women and the types of communication needed to liberate them.
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Abubakar Mohammed Babale, Atinuke Olubukade Akintayo, Lois Otse Adams-Osigbemhe, & Ogabi Dhosi Temitope. (2026). Role of Public Relations in Promoting Gender Based Violence among Women in Ikorodu, Lagos State. SIASAT, 12(1), 30-46. Retrieved from https://siasatjournal.id/index.php/siasat/article/view/282
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Okuchemiya, S., & Majority, O. (2025). Influence of New Media on Modern Day Journalism: A Study of Selected Media Houses in Delta State. Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Economic Trends Journal, 1(2), 65-72.
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Postmus, J. L., Hoge, G. L., Breckenridge, J., Sharp-Jeffs, N., & Chung, D. (2020). Economic abuse as an invisible form of domestic violence: A multicountry review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(2), 261–283. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018764160
Rotimi, A., Adeleke, B., & Okafor, C. (2025). Prevalence of gender-based violence among senior secondary school students in Lagos East Senatorial District. Nigerian Journal of Health Sciences, 25(1), 12–25.
Somerville, K., & Aroussi, S. (2023). Dialogic public relations and power-sharing with marginalized communities. Public Relations Inquiry, 12(1).
Success, O., & Maiwada, A. A. (2026). Digital Journalism and Revenue Sustainability of Print Media Organisations in Nigeria. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 8(3), 235-251.
Success, O., Akintaro, M. G., & Babale, A. M. (2026). Online Product Reviews and Traditional Advertisements on Purchase Decisions of Consumers in Nigeria. Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance, 6(4), 370-379.
Success, O., Odoyi, C. D., & Maiwada, A. A. (2026). Media Framing of Socio-Political Discourse in Nigeria. Polit Journal Scientific Journal of Politics, 6(3), 224-232.
Taiwo Peter Ajayi, Bolu John Folayan, Atinuke Olubukade Akintayo, Lydia Kehinde Salako4 and Oluwadamilare M. Adesina (2026). Assessing the pedagogical impact of artificial intelligence-powered social media tools on students' academic performance in Nigerian higher education. Journal of Media and Communication Studies.
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Adedara, A. J. (2023). Persistency of the reprehensible cultural practices against widows of the widowhood classes in Nigeria: Legal analysis. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journal of International Law and Jurisprudence, 14(1), 24–33.
Adegbite, A. (2020). Multilevel behaviour change communication and the persistence of gender-based violence in Nigerian households. African Journal of Communication, 8(2).
Adegboye, O. (2020). Descriptive statistical approaches in Nigerian community health research. Journal of Public Health Studies, 6(1), 22–35.
Adejimi, A. A., Adeyemi, A. B., & Oluwole, E. O. (2021). Socio-cultural factors associated with gender-based violence among women in Lagos State, Nigeria. African Health Sciences, 21(2), 614–623. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v21i2.19
Adekeye, O., & Eleojo, A. (2019). Principles of social science research methods. University Press.
Adekoya, H. O., Oyewo, M. T., & Omole, F. (2025). Radio advocacy campaigns and public attitudes towards gender inequality and workplace harassment in Nigeria. Journal of Media and Society, 12(1).
Airaoje, O. K., Akintayo, A. O., Adewale, O. C., & Obada, A. A. (2025). Community Awareness and Government Response to Cholera Outbreaks in Borno State. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(2), 184-201.
Airaoje, O. K., Akintayo, A. O., Obada, A. A., & Uchendu, C. E. (2025). Maternal Health Status in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 12(1), 62-79.
Airaoje, O. K., Uchendu, C. E., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., Aondover, E. M., & Obada, A. A. (2025). Gender-based violence as a public health crisis: consequences for Nigerian women and society. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 7(1), 75-92.
Akintaro, M. G., Joy, J. I., & Success, O. (2026). Social Media Misinformation and the Transformation of Journalism in Lagos State. SIASAT, 11(4), 259-271.
Akintaro, M. G., Success, O., & Joy, J. I. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Academic Achievement in Higher Education: A Conceptual Review. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 13(3), 278-291.
Akintayo, A. O., & Ajayi, P. T. (2024). Impact of radio agricultural programmes on food insecurity in Nigeria: a study of selected radio stations in Ondo State. International Journal of Law, Politics and Humanities Research.
Akintayo, A. O., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). Addressing the Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus-Arun To Ba Eje Omo Ninu Oyun Je amongst Female Residents in Imota. Budapest International Research in Exact Sciences (BirEx) Journal, 7(2), 119-130.
Akintayo, A. O., Adewale, O. C., Tsenongo, M., & Akintaro, M. G. (2026). Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Performance of Broadcasting Companies in Nigeria. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 8(1), 1-9.
Akintayo, A. O., Ezeoye, C. S., Akintaro, M. G., & Adewale, O. C. (2026). The Use of Sign Language in News Presentations for Hearing Impaired Viewers to Promote Sustainable and Inclusive Media. SIASAT, 11(1), 51-63.
Aliyu, M. A., Msughter, A. E., & Nneka, A. Q. (2023). Comparative study of national development plans in Nigeria and India: Media dimension. SIASAT, 8(4), 202-212.
Awofadeju, P. O., & Akintayo, A. O. (2023). Sustaining the educational sector through radio as a learning tool amongst secondary school students during COVID-19 lockdown. International Journal of Intellectual Discourse, 6(1), 135-143.
Badiora, A., Adeoye, A., & Oladipo, M. (2025). Quantitative assessment of public relations campaigns in addressing gender-based violence in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Community Development, 13(1).
Badiora, A., Sanusi, A., Talabi, F., Alade, B., & Oladele, O. (2025). Media advocacy and public perception of gender-based violence in Nigeria. Journal of African Media Studies, 17(1).
Balogun, A., Adeyemi, O., & Ojo, M. (2020). Socio-economic influences on women's empowerment programmes in Lagos State. Nigerian Journal of Development Studies, 8(2).
Bolarinwa, O., Olagunju, T., & Wahab, B. (2022). Geographical hotspots of intimate partner violence in Nigeria. BMC Women’s Health, 22.
Cain, P. A. (1993). Feminist jurisprudence: Grounding the theories. Berkeley Women’s Law Journal, 4(2), 191–214.
Emmanuel, B. O., FalobI, F., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). Digital Public Relations and Governance in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges.
Gesualdi, D. (2019). Dialogic public relations and ethical communication. Journal of Public Relations Inquiry, 38(1).
Hile, M. M., Msughter, A. E., & Babale, A. M. (2022). A public health communication: towards effective use of social marketing for public health campaigns in Nigeria. Ann Community Med Prim Health Care, 5(1), 1002.
Ibitoye, T., & Abolarin-Egbebiola, O. (2025). Newspaper framing of gender-based violence in Nigeria: A feminist CDA. Journal of Media and Gender, 9(1).
Idowu, E., Okeke, P., & Balogun, T. (2023). Gender-based violence and social vulnerability during COVID-19 in rural Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 27(4).
Idris-Iyekolo, B., & Akinsemoyin, O. (2025). Cultural norms, economic dependence, and political neglect as drivers of violence against women in Kwara State, Nigeria. Journal of African Social Research, 14(2), 55–70.
Maiwada, A. A., Success, O., & Ishola, K. O. (2026). Digital Crisis Communication and Organisational Resilience in Nigeria: Analysis of Stakeholder Engagement and Reputation Recovery. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 8(3), 222-234.
McLindon, E. V.-M., Brown, C., McKenzie, M., Tarzia, L., & Hegarty, K. (2025). Development and validation of the psychological abuse in relationships scale. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251325912
Mohajan, H. K. (2020). Quantitative research: A successful investigation in natural and social sciences. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 9(4), 52–79. https://doi.org/10.26458/jedep.v9i4.679
Msughter, A. E. (2022). Chapter Thirteen Comparative Study of Hate Speech in The 2015 And 2019 General Elections In Select Newspapers In Nigeria. THOUGHTS ON, 146.
Msughter, A. E., Hile, M. M., & Bappa, F. S. (2022). Have you heard what they are doing to women? Media portrayal of female celebrities in Nigerian press. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 9(2), 186-197.
Okuchemiya, S., & Majority, O. (2025). Influence of New Media on Modern Day Journalism: A Study of Selected Media Houses in Delta State. Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Economic Trends Journal, 1(2), 65-72.
Ozor, O., Etiaba, E., & Onwujekwe, O. (2024). Strengthening the effectiveness of community within health system: Assessing the factors that enhance or constrain the delivery of health services in communities in Nigeria. Health Research Policy and Systems, 22.
Postmus, J. L., Hoge, G. L., Breckenridge, J., Sharp-Jeffs, N., & Chung, D. (2020). Economic abuse as an invisible form of domestic violence: A multicountry review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(2), 261–283. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018764160
Rotimi, A., Adeleke, B., & Okafor, C. (2025). Prevalence of gender-based violence among senior secondary school students in Lagos East Senatorial District. Nigerian Journal of Health Sciences, 25(1), 12–25.
Somerville, K., & Aroussi, S. (2023). Dialogic public relations and power-sharing with marginalized communities. Public Relations Inquiry, 12(1).
Success, O., & Maiwada, A. A. (2026). Digital Journalism and Revenue Sustainability of Print Media Organisations in Nigeria. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 8(3), 235-251.
Success, O., Akintaro, M. G., & Babale, A. M. (2026). Online Product Reviews and Traditional Advertisements on Purchase Decisions of Consumers in Nigeria. Economit Journal: Scientific Journal of Accountancy, Management and Finance, 6(4), 370-379.
Success, O., Odoyi, C. D., & Maiwada, A. A. (2026). Media Framing of Socio-Political Discourse in Nigeria. Polit Journal Scientific Journal of Politics, 6(3), 224-232.
Taiwo Peter Ajayi, Bolu John Folayan, Atinuke Olubukade Akintayo, Lydia Kehinde Salako4 and Oluwadamilare M. Adesina (2026). Assessing the pedagogical impact of artificial intelligence-powered social media tools on students' academic performance in Nigerian higher education. Journal of Media and Communication Studies.
Tanyishi, A. E. (2025). Public relations and gender equality representation in Nigeria. African Journal of Stability and Development.
Wada, O. Z., Olawade, D. B., Amusa, A. O., Moses, J. O., & Eteng, G. J. (2022). Gender-based violence during COVID-19 lockdown: Case study of a community in Lagos, Nigeria. African Health Sciences, 22(2).
World Health Organization. (2021). Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2018: Global, regional and national prevalence estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women. WHO Press.
World Health Organization. (2023). Violence against women: Global prevalence estimates. WHO Press.
World Health Organization. (2024). Social and behaviour change for health: Implementation guidance. WHO Press.