By Tobi Adetunji
AXA Mansard Insurance Plc has mobilised over 1,000 employees across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt in a nationwide campaign against child abuse and gender-based violence, reinforcing the growing role of the private sector in promoting child protection and safeguarding vulnerable groups.
The week-long advocacy campaign, held under the 2026 AXA Week for Good, saw employees engage residents through community sensitisation, door-to-door awareness drives, educational outreaches and advocacy programmes aimed at promoting the prevention, identification and reporting of domestic and sexual violence.
Organised under the company’s global employee volunteering initiative, AXA Hearts in Action, this year’s campaign was themed “Being a Child Shouldn’t Be a Risk,” underscoring the need to create safer environments where children and women can live free from abuse, exploitation and violence.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer of AXA Mansard Health, Tope Adeniyi, said the campaign reflects the company’s commitment to extending protection beyond insurance by supporting interventions that improve the wellbeing of communities.
According to him, child abuse and gender-based violence remain major societal concerns that require sustained awareness, collaboration and community engagement.
“AXA Week for Good is a global expression of who we are as a Group, but in Nigeria it must also address the realities confronting our communities. As a company built on protection, we have a responsibility not only to insure lives and livelihoods but also to support actions that make society safer, more informed and more compassionate,” he said.
Adeniyi said the overwhelming participation of employees demonstrated the company’s culture of volunteerism and commitment to creating positive social impact.
“The fact that more than 1,000 employees volunteered their time for this campaign speaks volumes about our shared commitment to making a difference beyond the workplace,” he added.
Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, said the initiative aligns with the company’s purpose of promoting protection, dignity and inclusion, particularly for vulnerable members of society.
She noted that the campaign builds on the success of last year’s advocacy themed “Being a Girl Shouldn’t Be a Risk,” reflecting the company’s determination to sustain conversations around child protection and gender-based violence.
“We recognise that meaningful social change requires consistency. Through this campaign, we are helping to raise awareness, encourage reporting and strengthen collective responsibility in protecting children and women from abuse,” Surakat said.
The campaign culminated in awareness walks across the three cities, with participants calling for stronger collaboration among families, schools, government agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector to combat domestic and sexual violence.
According to the company, the initiative also reflects its broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda, which prioritises community development, financial inclusion and social protection.
AXA Mansard disclosed that more than 90 per cent of its workforce participated in volunteer activities in 2025, contributing over 3,000 hours to community service. The company said this year’s higher participation demonstrates its resolve to leverage employee volunteerism to address pressing social challenges and deliver lasting impact across communities.
