The  SUBVERT Sub-Saharan African University GBV Prevention and Response Network recently convened a two-day international conference from the 23rd to the 24th of October in Accra, Ghana. This network is committed to fostering campus environments free from all forms of interpersonal violence. The network is comprised of the University of Michigan and eight African universities, including the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), University of Liberia (Liberia), University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), National University of Science and Technology (Zimbabwe), Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (South Africa), Takoradi Technical University (Ghana), and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Nigeria).

The conference aimed to assess the progress and outcomes of the recently completed Campus Climate survey. The survey data collected was instrumental in understanding the campus climate and culture concerning interpersonal violence, with the objective of using this information to enhance campus responses, interventions, and prevention strategies across Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Obafemi Awolowo Team, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Development, Prof. Akanni I. Akinyemi, the Director of the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, Dr. Olufunmilayo O. Banjo, and the Technical Working Team, comprising Mrs. Abiola Afolabi and Oluwatobiloba Shadare, presented the findings from the collected data and outlined plans for dissemination.

The conference also featured presentations on the network’s achievements to date, student presentations, and presentations from other sites. Subsequently, the group collaborated to outline new priorities, plans for sustainability, and strategies for disseminating results through manuscripts, presentations, and other available means.

The Sub-Saharan African University GBV Prevention and Response Network’s international conference served as a critical platform for advancing efforts to combat interpersonal violence and create safer campus environments. The exchange of ideas, sharing of best practices, and the commitment of this network and its partner institutions signify a powerful step toward achieving these objectives.