In a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the New Era Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment, management, and sustainability of Patience Home, a safe haven and rehabilitation facility dedicated to survivors of gender-based violence.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, described the initiative as a transformative national model that demonstrates how government and private sector collaboration can effectively address deep-rooted social challenges.
“Today’s signing marks a deliberate, intentional partnership designed to serve as a definitive national pilot of how government and the private sector can seamlessly collaborate to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” the Minister stated.
She noted that the initiative reflects the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, under the Renewed Hope Agenda and aligns with the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family and Social Development, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to strengthening families and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
Highlighting the urgency of the intervention, the Minister revealed that Nigeria recorded 2,755 cases of gender-based and intimate partner violence within the first four months of 2026, averaging 23 reported cases daily, while only 4 percent of reported cases reached legal accountability.
“With females accounting for over 81 percent of survivors and sexual violence constituting more than 82 percent of reported abuses, particularly among adolescents aged 10 to 14 years.
The Minister explained that Patience Home will advance the Ministry’s four-pillar mandate to Prevent, Protect, Safeguard, and Advocate, offering survivors access to safe shelter, psychosocial support, healthcare services, legal assistance, rehabilitation, and economic empowerment opportunities.
She further disclosed that the Ministry is rolling out a comprehensive National Action Plan on SGBV, including the establishment of safe spaces across all 774 Local Government Areas, regional Mega Protection Centres, and the deployment of “Women on Wheels” mobile response units to provide trauma-informed care at the grassroots.
“This MoU is not merely symbolic; it is an operational covenant that demands transparent timelines and strict accountability. Let us now translate this commitment into physical structures and operational healing spaces without delay,” she added.
In his remarks, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, described gender-based violence as not only a human rights issue but also a critical public health concern with far-reaching consequences on survivors’ physical, mental, reproductive, and socio-economic wellbeing.
“Survivors require not only medical care but also protection, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and opportunities for reintegration.
Patience Home provides a practical and compassionate response to these needs,” Dr. Aina said.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the New Era Foundation for their leadership and acknowledged the sustained advocacy of Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in championing the welfare of women and children.
Dr. Aina explained that under the tripartite agreement, NPHCDA will provide technical coordination for healthcare services at the facility, including medical equipment, start-up consumables, capacity building for clinical personnel, and periodic quality assessments to ensure responsive and quality healthcare services.
“Today’s signing is a commitment to action and a demonstration of what can be achieved when government, civil society, and philanthropy work together to address complex social challenges,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the New Era Foundation, Mrs. Grace O. Giwa, highlighted the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to youth and women empowerment since its establishment in 2000 by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
She explained that Patience Home was originally established in 2019 as a transitional residential and empowerment centre for vulnerable women and childless widows, providing housing and vocational training to help them rebuild their lives.
“Patience Home is now being converted into a functional and safe rehabilitation facility for women survivors of Gender-Based Violence. This transition reflects our commitment to meeting emerging social needs and ensuring that vulnerable women have a pathway to healing, dignity, and renewed hope,” Mrs. Giwa said.
She noted that the facility’s handover under the newly signed MoU represents a significant milestone in the Foundation’s mission of promoting the wellbeing and empowerment of women and vulnerable groups across Nigeria.
The partnership brings together the complementary strengths of the three institutions: the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs will oversee day-to-day management, social services, legal support, advocacy, and empowerment programmes; NPHCDA will coordinate healthcare delivery and quality assurance; while the New Era Foundation will provide the facility and infrastructure required for the Home’s operations.
The establishment of Patience Home is expected to become a model intervention for survivor-centered care in Nigeria, providing a comprehensive support system that restores dignity, promotes recovery, and empowers survivors to rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations Dept.
FMWASD
