In a bold move to tackle gender-based violence head-on, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in a powerful alliance with The Carter Center, descended on the bustling Alayabiagba Market in Ajegunle, Apapa LGA, with a mission to inform, empower, and transform the lives of women—armed with nothing but knowledge and aprons.

The high-energy outreach, held on Wednesday, May 22, 2025, was part of the trailblazing “Inform Women, Transform Lives” campaign, and it brought the message of resistance, resilience, and support right to the heart of the marketplace.

Hundreds of female traders gathered as DSVA operatives lit up the market with powerful conversations on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), opening their eyes to the many hidden forms of abuse lurking in homes, streets, and workplaces.

From verbal assault to physical and psychological torment, the women were schooled on how to detect, reject, and report it—all while standing as watchdogs for their fellow women.

In a dramatic twist, 100 women were gifted specially designed aprons—each one not just a piece of fabric, but a walking billboard of hope.

These aprons came emblazoned with bold messaging and packed with Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, designed to spark conversation, break silence, and shatter stigma within the market community.

Perhaps the most striking moment? When market women chanted back the DSVA’s toll-free helpline—08000-333-333—proving that knowledge had truly sunk in and help was now just a call away.