Africa Faith & Justice Network, Nigeria

Organizational Profile

Organization Name: Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) Nigeria

Vision: A transformed society where justice prevails, inspired by Gospel values.

Mission: To provide a platform that educates and advocates for justice, peace, and integrity of creation, inspired and driven by Catholic Social Teachings.

Goal: To provide an effective advocacy platform for justice, peace, and integrity.

Background:

Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) Nigeria is a network of Catholic clergy, religious sisters, and partners committed to empowering communities and advocating for social change. Since its inception in 2016, AFJN has been actively involved in sensitization programs and practical advocacy visits to address pressing issues across Nigeria.

The organization’s advocacy efforts have focused on ending Gender-Based Violence, combating human trafficking, addressing domestic violence, eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), protecting the rights of children, and opposing genetically modified foods (GMOs). Through sustained activities, AFJN has achieved notable results in states such as Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi, Benue, Akwa Ibom, and Enugu, including policy changes, legislative reforms, and the rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked victims.

Organizational Approach:

AFJN Nigeria employs a community-driven and faith-rooted approach to advocacy, working closely with stakeholders, policymakers, and traditional and religious leaders to address systemic injustices. We emphasize education, empowerment, grassroots mobilization, and dialogue, guided by Catholic Social Teachings, to drive positive and sustainable social transformation.

Core Activities:

Sensitization Programs – Conducting grassroots awareness-raising campaigns and community outreach on child rights, gender equality, and justice.
Advocacy Visits – Engaging policymakers, government agencies, and community leaders to influence legislative reforms and enforcement of protective laws.
Youth Empowerment – Training young people as advocates to challenge harmful practices and champion the rights of children, especially girls.
Research and Documentation – Collecting evidence, documenting best practices, and disseminating findings to inform advocacy strategies.
Collaboration and Networking – Building alliances with national and international partners to amplify advocacy impact and ensure collective action.
Church Outreach – Engaging youth advocates and Catholic sisters to promote awareness through faith-based platforms, leveraging the Church’s influence to challenge harmful practices.

Strategic Focus Areas & Project Activities

Strengthening Community-Based Prevention and Protection Mechanisms
- Establish child protection committees to monitor, prevent, and respond to child early and forced marriage and domestic servitude.
- Outcome: Stronger community resilience and increased capacity to protect children from exploitation and abuse.
Mobilizing Youth Activists and Advocates
- Identify and train youth leaders from across communities.
- Build capacity through workshops on child rights, advocacy strategies, and communication.
- Form Youth Advocacy Groups to drive campaigns and engage stakeholders.
- Outcome: A network of empowered youth activists advocating for child protection and influencing positive change.
Church Outreach and Faith-Based Engagement
- Partner with Catholic Sisters, priests, and youth groups to use church platforms for advocacy.
- Raise awareness in parishes and faith communities on the dangers of child marriage and domestic servitude.
- Outcome: Strengthened moral voice and faith-based movement against harmful practices.

Impact So Far

Facilitated the training of youth advocates across Ebonyi State as agents of change in ending child early and forced marriage and domestic servitude.
Supported the formation of Youth Advocacy Groups in Ikwo LGA, which are now active in awareness-raising and community mobilization.
Engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders in policy dialogues and advocacy visits.
Strengthened grassroots protection structures by initiating community-based child protection committees.
AFJN’s advocacy contributed to the establishment of anti-trafficking task forces, passage of strict child protection laws, and the closure of establishments facilitating trafficking and exploitation.

Looking Ahead:

AFJN Nigeria remains committed to promoting justice, peace, and integrity through advocacy, education, and empowerment. Recognizing that poverty is a major driver of child early marriage and domestic servitude, our next phase will focus on empowering survivors and vulnerable families with alternative lifestyles through vocational training, education support, and economic empowerment programs.

We are calling on government agencies, development partners, faith-based organizations, and international donors to support our efforts in providing survivors with the opportunities to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society.