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About Us

Who We Are

Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is a non-profit organization established to combat and advocate against the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and human trafficking of young girls and women across Nigeria and Africa.

Founded in 2016 by Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, MD, the Foundation was established to raise awareness and address the prevalence of this problem. Using the “WARIF Approach”, a unique holistic method for tackling SGBV through the development and implementation of a series of initiatives, the organization targets the intervention and treatment of these affected women. It also provides preventive measures via education and community service to reduce the high incidence of violence.

Through the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre, we tackle the immediate health and psycho-social effects of SGBV, such as new cases of HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies providing free medical care, psycho-social counseling, and legal support to survivors.

With our community initiatives, we collaborate with an ecosystem of actors (community leaders, traditional birth attendants, law enforcement, local/state government, etc.) to address the long-term societal problems that are the causes and effects of SGBV; higher incidence of illiteracy, the adverse impact on girl learning, and the social development of a nation.

Our end goal is to create a world where all women and girls can live their lives free from gender-based violence.

Founder's Message

When I founded WARIF, I had a simple, yet urgent belief: no woman or girl should ever be silenced by shame, denied support, or left to suffer in the shadows of gender-based violence. Too many of our daughters, sisters, and mothers carry the invisible scars of abuse. For many, the systems meant to protect them, such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement, often fall short. That is why WARIF exists.

We have created WARIF to be a safe place, a place of healing, justice, and hope. But more than that, we have built a movement with a holistic approach that is community-led and survivor-focused, identifying that prevention and response must go together.

Over the years, we’ve seen that violence against women is not just a women’s issue but a community issue, a national crisis, and a human rights emergency. We’ve also seen that it takes all of us, the government, the private sector, civil society, creatives, educators, parents, and young people to make meaningful change.

From rural communities to urban schools, from boardrooms to policy chambers, every one of us has a role to play. Whether you’re a healthcare worker, a policymaker, a corporate leader, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, your voice, your partnership, and your actions matter.

At WARIF, we recognize that we can’t wait for change but must create it. Through our three-pillar approach of Health, Education, and Community Service, we’ve empowered thousands of survivors, trained first responders, changed mindsets, and influenced national conversations. But there is still much to do.

We need stronger laws. We need safer communities. We need survivors to be heard, believed, and supported. And we need sustainable funding and partnerships to take this work even further.

Now that you are here, consider this your invitation to join us. Partner with us. Fund a program. Amplify our message. Volunteer your time or skills. Advocate in your space. 

Every step you take helps us build a Nigeria, an Africa, and a world where every woman and girl lives free from violence and full of possibility.

Thank you for standing with us.

Dr Kemi DaSilva Ibru

Founder, WARIF

Our Vision

To build a society free of rape and sexual violence.

Our Mission

To raise global awareness and advocate against sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria and Africa.

Our Core Values

 Diversity | Integrity | Accountability | Advocacy

Our Intervention Logic

To achieve our mandate, we design and consistently implement a series of effective, target-oriented interventions, preventive initiatives, and advocacy campaigns.

Intervention coupled with care and treatment are offered at the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre and its satellite clinics. These clinics are Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) established in key locations across the country.

Preventive initiatives are executed through the development and facilitation of an ecosystem of stakeholders, delivered as training, secondary and tertiary level educational programs, and advocacy campaigns.

Our Management Team

WARIF Survivor Newsletter