Safety in Education: LGBTQI Activism and Gender Transformative Education in Nigeria

• In Event: Gender Transformative Education: An Emergent Concept’s Opportunities and Limitations in the Global North and South

Proposal

Nigeria is a deeply religious and conservative society where LGBTQ+ individuals face harsh legal and social barriers. The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014 criminalizes same-sex relationships and prohibits LGBTQ+ advocacy, casting fear over the lives of queer individuals. Cultural and religious beliefs further fuel discrimination, excluding LGBTQ+ individuals from critical services like health care and education.

As an LGBTQ+ activist, my work centres on creating safe spaces and advocating for the inclusion of marginalized groups, especially sexual minorities. In my role as Programmes Associate at the Center for Health, Education, and Vulnerable Support (CHEVS), I have led efforts to promote safety, education, and reproductive rights for sexual minorities. This includes advocating for gender-inclusive policies and ensuring access to healthcare and education for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly women and girls. Through our TechForPride program, launched in 2022, we provide young LGBTQ+ individuals with tech skills in a safe learning environment.

Despite progress in advocacy and community-building, LGBTQ+ learners face hostile environments in West African schools. Institutions meant to support personal and academic growth often become places of trauma, where queer students experience bullying, harassment, and even expulsion. There is little to no protection from school authorities for these students.

In regions like Nigeria and West Africa, where rigid gender norms are reinforced by cultural and religious beliefs, gender transformative education (GTE) is revolutionary. GTE seeks to reshape curricula, challenge discriminatory practices, and encourage educators and students to critically examine and disrupt traditional gender roles.

For LGBTQI+ learners, exclusion, hostility, and violence are daily realities. Schools, rather than being safe spaces, often become places of fear. Queer students face bullying and harassment, sometimes even physical violence, at the hands of peers, teachers, and administrators. LGBTQI+ learners are frequently silenced, unable to express their identities openly due to stigmatization. In many countries, including Nigeria, any discourse on LGBTQ+ rights is considered immoral and "Western."

This presentation will address three key areas of work within CHEVS that support LGBTQ+ rights under the GTE framework:

TechForPride Program: Providing safe spaces and technology training for LGBTQ+ youth, helping them gain skills and confidence in an otherwise hostile environment.

Advocacy for Gender-Inclusive Policies: Pushing for changes in policies and systems that ensure LGBTQ+ students are protected from discrimination and have equal access to education.

Intersectional Approach to Education and Activism: Recognizing how gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic factors intersect, we work to create a more inclusive system that supports marginalised communities, especially those from rural or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

By challenging harmful norms and advocating for gender transformative education, we aim to create systems that reflect the values of inclusion, diversity, and equity for all.

Author

• Esther Nwanegbo, Center for Health, Education, and Vulnerable Support (CHEVS)