The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has launched a Religious Pre-Marital Counselling Online Course aimed at equipping pastors, imams and faith-based marriage counsellors with practical tools to guide couples toward healthier, violence-free marriages.
The initiative, announced in a statement on Wednesday, forms part of the Lagos State Government’s broader strategy to prevent domestic violence by strengthening the foundation of marriages before they begin.
According to the agency, marriage preparation in many communities across Lagos often takes place within churches and mosques, making religious leaders key sources of guidance for couples preparing to wed.
Recognising this influence, the programme has been designed to combine faith-based perspectives with modern relationship education, enabling counsellors to support couples in building partnerships rooted in communication, mutual respect and accountability.
“Recognising this influence, the programme has been designed to provide counsellors with structured knowledge that combines faith-based perspectives with modern relationship education,” the agency said in the statement.
DSVA explained that the course will be delivered through a flexible digital platform featuring self-paced modules, case studies and assessments that allow participants to apply practical knowledge to real-life counselling scenarios.
Participants who complete the programme will receive certification aimed at strengthening professionalism and accountability among faith-based counsellors across the state.
The curriculum also introduces participants to key concepts in the prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), including how to recognise early warning signs of abusive relationships and provide responsible guidance to intending couples.
The launch event drew participation from several faith and government institutions, including the Anglican Diocese of Lagos, the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society and the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs.
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The agency noted that the programme complements its recently introduced Relationship Health Clinic, another initiative designed to provide professional psychological support for individuals and couples using the evidence-based RELATE Protocol, a diagnostic framework used to assess relationship dynamics and guide early interventions.
Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, emphasised the preventive approach behind the programme.
“Domestic violence does not begin in the courtroom. In many cases, it begins long before marriage,” she said. “By strengthening the quality of pre-marital counselling within our faith institutions, we are helping couples build marriages founded on respect, safety and shared responsibility.”
Vivour-Adeniyi added that addressing domestic violence requires collaboration between government institutions and community stakeholders, particularly faith-based organisations that play a central role in guiding families.
“Preventing domestic violence requires collective responsibility. By partnering with faith institutions, we are strengthening marriages at their foundation and building communities where homes remain safe and supportive for everyone,” she said.
Through initiatives such as the online counselling programme and the Relationship Health Clinic, the Lagos State Government said it is reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy against sexual and gender-based violence while promoting healthy relationships and stable families across the state.