18 Jun 2026 WACC partner in Nigeria empowers social media users to challenge misogynistic narratives
A WACC-supported project in Nigeria led by the Media & Gender Enlightenment Initiative (MEGEIN) has raised awareness about women’s digital communication rights to support their online engagement and create safer online spaces.
“Women’s voices are suppressed, silenced and controlled by discriminatory practices, and by implicit social attitudes, cultural norms and patriarchal values in real life situations,” says Nkem Fab-Ukozor, project director at MEGEIN. “Such are not different in mainstream and digital media spaces.”
Attacks or hate speech on social media causes women to self-censor rather than speak up and express themselves, she notes. “When they are made to remain silent, we lose this huge knowledge based on potential that are inherent in women.”
Social media monitoring reveals deeply misogynistic attitudes
Through social media monitoring based on WACC’s social media watch methodology, MEGEIN, coordinating organization of the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) for Nigeria, studied the presence of misogyny on X and Facebook.
The monitoring team analyzed some 6,000 pieces of content ranging from posts with text or video to comments and shares. Follow-up interviews with women on the receiving end of abusive content gave insight into the emotional and psychological impact.
Two-thirds of all misogynistic posts observed deliberately employed dehumanising and abusive language – with no effort made to conceal the intention of the person doing the posting. More than 90% of misogynistic content online was text-based.
“People behind these contents are literates,” observes Fab-Ukozor. “They were not just novices or illiterates with technological devices.”
While over 60% of this content was posted by men, close to two of ten posts were made by women.
“It is confounding to observe that women can have such level of hate against their fellow women,” says Fab-Ukozor. This reflects just how deeply misogynistic attitudes are engrained in society.
Participants of workshops run by MEGEIN in southeastern Nigeria to raise awareness of online misogyny and build capacity to work for a more just digital community. Photos: MEGEIN
Equipping women to challenge online hate
Using this knowledge, MEGEIN set forward to raise awareness through two-day, participatory workshops hosted in each of southeastern Nigeria’s five states.
Each workshop focused on digital gender rights and the importance of women standing together against online misogyny. However, the participants’ reactions revealed just how deeply normalized gender-based discrimination is.
Despite many having experienced or observed online hate, “most women are ignorant of their rights on social media and do not want to go for redress,” reports Fab-Ukozor. “They do not find it necessary to fight back with superior argument when they are attacked with hate speech.”
The workshops featured campaign flyers denouncing misogyny and encouraging women to challenge online hate. MEGEIN posted campaign content on their social media channels to educate a wider audience.
The project directly engaged nearly 500 women including bloggers and social media influencers and reached over 200 men, some of whom were journalists able to further broadcast the message.
The majority of women workshop participants said they felt they had gained important knowledge of their digital communication rights. Sixty percent subsequently increased their online presence, a result that exceeded MEGEIN’s expectations.
“[We’re] confident that the participants will continue to embrace the social media space for the expression of themselves and identity,” the project reports.
“The most important change is the increase in the level of awareness on the depth of misogynistic content on social media space,” concludes Fab-Ukozor. “And the knowledge of the power within women’s right to fight back [against] the negative narrative about women.”
MEGEIN will continue to fight against misogyny online and use their findings for advocacy to government authorities, media outlets, and influencers.
Top image: Posts from MEGEIN’s campaign urging users to challenge online misogyny and support women.
WACC works in partnership with the Media & Gender Enlightenment Initiative and other communication rights and sustainable development organizations worldwide through its Communication for All Program (CAP), with support from Bread for the World-Germany.
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