The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) has called on Nigerians to abandon harmful social cultural norms that pose a threat to national development, particularly in rural communities. Director General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello, made the call at the 2026 Social Norms Conference.
The conference, themed "Norms In Shifting Landscapes: Powering Progress for People and Place," aimed to reflect on values, beliefs, behaviors, and social institutions that influence the ability to respond to change and achieve sustainable development. Bello emphasized that while some norms promote unity and cooperation, others perpetuate inequality and limit human potential.
Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hulayat Omidiran, noted that society and communities often force people to embrace harmful and unsustainable cultural norms. Omidiran stressed the need to sensitize people, especially those at the grassroots, on the need to shun such practices that limit human potential and deprive people of their fundamental human rights.
Senior Social Development Specialist with the World Bank, Mr. Mike Ilesanmi, described the conference as timely and highly relevant. Ilesanmi noted that across the country, there is a profound shift driven by technology, demographic change, migration, and evolving socio-economic realities, recreating new opportunities to challenge old-held beliefs and social expectations.
One Health Unite Lead at Africa CDC, Dr. Yewande Alimi, called for effective collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that community heads, councilors, youth groups, and market women are not just beneficiaries of positive norms but also decision-makers, with inclusive budgetary allocations and shared ideas through widespread awareness campaigns.
The Convener of the program and Principal, Child Health, Gender and Social Behavior Change, Dr. Raihannah Ibrahim, stated that the event aimed to tackle social behavioral change and norms in connection with gender, education, climate change, and other development sectors. Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that the collaboration was also aimed at shifting harmful norms that prevent development into progress and harnessing positive norms that could potentially move the country forward.
The partnership between the Federal Government and Civil Society Organizations seeks to drive impactful community sensitization in addressing the high prevalence of harmful norms practices, especially in rural communities. Key stakeholders are expected to work together to promote sustainable norms that foster unity, peace, and tranquility, and ultimately drive national development.
Key points
- The Federal Government partners with Civil Society Organizations to address harmful cultural norms in Nigeria.
- The 2026 Social Norms Conference aimed to reflect on values, beliefs, behaviors, and social institutions that influence the ability to respond to change and achieve sustainable development.
- The partnership seeks to drive impactful community sensitization in addressing the high prevalence of harmful norms practices, especially in rural communities.
