Lagos Fathers Pledge To Protect Daughters At New Responsible Fatherhood Programme

Seventy fathers in Lagos stood together and made a promise: to put their daughters’ safety, dignity and well-being first.

The pledge came at the end of a pilot initiative by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen father-daughter relationships. The session closed with an interactive discussion before the fathers made their pledge together.

“Protecting our girls begins at home. Fathers must understand that their responsibility goes beyond providing financially; it includes being present, listening to their daughters, earning their trust and creating an environment where they feel safe enough to speak up when something is wrong,” said Ramat Balogun-Lamidi, who spoke on behalf of the DSVA Executive Secretary, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi.

Balogun-Lamidi stressed that fathers have a crucial role in protecting girls and in creating homes where children feel safe, valued and heard. She said the initiative was designed to encourage more fathers to take an active part in preventing abuse and building stronger, healthier family relationships.

She named emotional availability, open communication, positive role modelling and active involvement in their daughters’ growth and development as essential parts of responsible fatherhood.

The programme was organised with the Daddy’s Girl Project and held on October 27, 2026, at Ikoyi Senior Grammar School, Lagos. Its theme was ‘Promoting Responsible, Present and Protective Fathers.’

It aims to encourage fathers to take a more active role in their daughters’ lives and to recognise how their presence, emotional support and guidance can help prevent abuse.

The facilitator, Kingsley Obom-Egbulem, a parenting coach, author and host of the Manhood radio show, urged the fathers to build relationships with their daughters based on trust, respect, emotional security, active listening and appropriate guidance.

Participants also discussed tox!c masculinity and positive parenting. They reflected on their own parenting styles and explored practical ways to become more present, supportive and protective fathers.

The DSVA said the pilot is part of wider efforts to promote positive parenting, strengthen family relationships and prevent s3xual and gender-based v!olence in homes, schools and communities.

It added that greater parental involvement is essential to safeguarding children and to building a culture in which protecting every girl is seen as a shared responsibility.

As part of its work to tackle domestic and child abvse, the agency urged members of the public to report cases through its 24-hour toll-free line.