LAGOS DSVA CELEBRATES SURVIVORS, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO BREAKING CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence as it commemorated Survivor’s Day 2026, with a call for survivors to reclaim their voices, rebuild their lives and look towards a future filled with hope.
The event, held on Tuesday, 15th September 2026, at Protea Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, was themed “Survivor’s Day: Breaking the Cycle, Building Hope.” It brought together survivors and key stakeholders for meaningful conversations around healing, empowerment, resilience, and the support required to help survivors move beyond their experiences of violence.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that survivors remain at the centre of interventions against domestic and sexual violence. She emphasised the importance of creating an environment where survivors feel supported, heard, and empowered to rebuild their lives.
She also expressed appreciation to Wema Bank, Poweroil and Kisskid for their support and partnership in making the Survivor’s Day programme possible, stressing the importance of strong partnerships in advancing survivor focused interventions.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Tolulope Oko-Igale, a Couple, Sex and Mental Health Therapist, spoke on “Healing After Violence: Reclaiming Your Voice, Identity and Future”. The session highlighted the emotional impact of violence and the importance of healing, self-worth, and reclaiming one’s identity after experiencing abuse.
The event also spotlighted economic empowerment as a critical pathway to breaking the cycle of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Speaking on the topic, Mrs. Feyisola Alayande, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, emphasised the importance of economic opportunities and independence in enabling survivors to regain stability and build sustainable futures.
A particularly moving segment of the programme was the “Survivor Spotlight”, themed “My Journey from Survival to Hope,” which gave a survivor the opportunity to share her personal journey, demonstrating the strength, courage and possibility of rebuilding after violence.
The programme further featured a wellness session facilitated by Ms. Oyinkan Talabi, Holistic Movement and Wellness Coach, as well as an interactive session led by Mrs. Ifeoma Nwonu of DSVA Programmes, allowing participants to engage, reflect, and share their experiences.
The Agency noted that Survivor’s Day goes beyond commemorating survivors, but serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to strengthen support systems, promote survivor centred responses and ensure that no survivor is left to navigate the journey to recovery alone.
The Agency reiterated that survival is not the end of the journey and that with the right support, opportunities and safe spaces, survivors can move from surviving violence to rebuilding their lives with dignity, purpose and hope.
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