Bukky Shonibare

Executive Director, Invictus Africa; Ford Global Fellow

“Data matters. It strengthens advocacy, supports accountability, and when used responsibly, it can move issues from the margins of public concern to the center of decision-making. As one of the leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls movement in Nigeria, I witnessed its power firsthand: When the Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014, there was initial denial. It was only after data was collected and verified that the number 276 emerged. That number gave clarity to the crisis, helped people relate to the fact that this could have been anyone’s daughter, sister, or neighbor, and became a rallying point for the local and global outcry that forced action.

Invictus Africa is a civic-tech organization that leverages data and technology to drive inclusive policies, equitable resource allocation, and institutional accountability. As its executive director, I helped create the Womanity Index, which measures subnational governments’ performance in preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV). It shows that in 2023, only 25 of Nigeria’s 36 states had a specific budget line for GBV prevention and response. Today, that number has increased to 31 states, reflecting a clear shift in how GBV is being recognized and prioritized. When a state creates a traceable budget line for GBV, it signals that this is a distinct and urgent public issue requiring intentional financing.

My interest in data is also deeply personal. Growing up, I experienced sexual violence and witnessed my mother endure intimate partner violence. Even as a child, I knew we were not isolated cases. What was missing was the evidence to show how many women and girls lived through similar experiences and what needed to be done. Now, data is helping us bring to the fore the lived experiences of rural women, girls without access to education, and others. It is moving advocacy beyond anecdotes into action.”

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