Analysing Digital Solidarity and Offline Mobilisation: A Policy Analysis of Nigeria's #WeAreTired Feminist Movement

This policy analysis examines the strategic interplay between digital activism and offline mobilisation within Nigeria’s #WeAreTired feminist movement from 2021 to 2026. It addresses the critical research problem of how digital tools translate into tangible policy influence within an African context marked by digital divides and state ambivalence towards gender justice. Employing a qualitative case study methodology, the analysis draws upon digital ethnography of social media platforms, semi-structured interviews with 22 movement organisers, and a systematic review of policy documents and media reports. The findings reveal that #WeAreTired functioned as a dynamic ecosystem where online solidarity, built through shared narratives of gender-based violence, was deliberately channelled into coordinated offline actions, including protests and targeted stakeholder engagements. This hybrid synergy proved instrumental in pressuring authorities to revisit legislative frameworks, notably influencing parliamentary debates and public discourse around the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. The article contends that the movement’s efficacy hinges on this iterative model, which skilfully adapts global feminist digital practices to local Nigerian socio-political realities. Its significance lies in proposing a policy-focused framework for analysing African feminist movements, demonstrating that sustainable change necessitates both supporting digital infrastructure and legally protecting physical assembly. The analysis concludes with implications for policymakers and civil society, advocating for integrated strategies that recognise and fortify this digital-offline nexus to advance women’s rights.