In a powerful move to tackle sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) from the ground up, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in partnership with the Ford Foundation, has inducted 300 students from Education District V into the transformative Kings and Queens Club initiative.
EpeInsights gathered that the induction, which follows weeks of orientation and sensitization, isn’t just about forming school clubs, it’s about nurturing a generation of informed, confident peer educators who will challenge harmful norms, advocate for equality and speak out against abuse in their schools and communities.
Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, explained that the initiative is aimed at building a sustainable support system within schools — one that fosters a culture of safety, dignity, and mutual respect.
Represented by Programme Officer Zainab Alaka at the event, Vivour-Adeniyi emphasized that the clubs are designed to reshape perceptions around femininity and masculinity, and to equip students with the tools to become true ambassadors of change.
“These clubs are more than just after-school gatherings,” she said.
“They are safe spaces where young boys and girls learn how to identify, report, and help prevent abuse while also empowering others to do the same.”
According to Damilare Adewusi, DSVA’s Head of Community Engagement and Project Coordinator for the clubs, the programme reinforces Lagos State’s zero-tolerance stance on all forms of SGBV.
More importantly, it addresses the urgent need to involve young people in the fight.
“Too often, children are among the most vulnerable. By educating them early, we’re giving them the voice, courage, and discipline to stand up against abuse both for themselves and others,” he said.
Adewusi encouraged the new inductees to see themselves as leaders: “You are not just students — you are influencers. You are agents of change. And the world needs you to keep pushing for a society free of gender-based violence.”
Teachers and students alike have praised the initiative. Linda Orji, a teacher at Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Senior Grammar School in Badagry, commended the DSVA’s efforts in reshaping attitudes and helping prevent domestic and child abuse in the state.
Student Ayomide Amoo from Araromi Ilogbo Secondary School shared how being in the Kings Club has shifted his mindset. “I’ve learned not just how to avoid being harmful, but how to speak up when I see abuse happening around me,” he said.
Another student, Efe Heaven of Ajara Senior Grammar School, said he now sees himself as a peer educator and is committed to promoting positive values among his classmates and beyond.
With this recent induction, the DSVA has now brought over 7,300 students into the Kings and Queens Clubs — 3,900 boys and 3,400 girls across Lagos State.
These young ambassadors are trained to help break the culture of silence that allows abuse to thrive and are armed with knowledge, confidence, and support to make a difference.
This initiative, supported by the Ford Foundation, is part of a broader goal: to embed prevention efforts deeply into the education system and empower children to take a stand for their rights and the rights of others.
