By Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
In a bold move to advance the safety and rights of queer communities in Nigeria, the FellowPride Alliance, a collective of five social change fellows, has launched a landmark campaign titled โSafeOnline, SafeOffline: Strengthening Digital and Physical Safety for Queer Communities in Nigeria.โ
Implemented under the Rainbow Alive Hub Initiative (TRAHI) and the Spotlight Initiative, the campaign is delivered in collaboration with the Council for Affirmative Action (COFAA). It arrives at a critical time when members of gender-diverse communities face escalating threats in both digital and physical spaces.
Queer Nigerians are disproportionately affected by cyberbullying, online blackmail, extortion, physical violence, and systemic exclusion โ abuses that contravene constitutional guarantees of dignity, privacy, and equality.
In a statement signed by Mbami Sabka Iliya, it urges law enforcement, digital platforms, community stakeholders, and government bodies to uphold the rights of all Nigerians, as outlined in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination and guarantees dignity, security, and equal protection under the law.
โOur mission is clear,โ said one of the fellows. โWe are working to create safer, more inclusive spaces โ online and offline โ for gender-diverse Nigerians. No one should live in fear because of who they are.โ
The campaign will feature grassroots engagement, digital safety training, legal awareness sessions, and strategic partnerships with institutions to strengthen protective mechanisms against violence and abuse targeting queer persons.
โWeโre not asking for privilege,โ another team member noted. โWeโre demanding what the law already provides: safety, dignity, and equality for every Nigerian.โ
As the campaign rolls out across Bauchi and other northern states, the FellowPride Alliance invites the public to confront stigma, support survivors, and stand in solidarity with the movement for justice and inclusion.
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