Oyo First Lady Advocates For Collaborative Action Against Gender-Based Violence

Education

Oyo First Lady Advocates For Collaborative Action Against Gender-Based Violence

Reported by Ayooluwa Afolabi

The First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, has called on stakeholders to unite in combating violence against women and girls in the state.

She emphasized that only a collective effort can effectively eradicate the menace of sexual and gender-based violence.

Speaking at a sensitization program themed “Unite Against Violence Against Women and Girls,” held at St. Bernadine’s Girls Grammar School, Oyo, Mrs. Makinde highlighted the importance of raising awareness and educating the public on this issue, the Nation reported.

She noted that programs like this are critical in reducing the prevalence of gender-based violence in the state.

Addressing the students, Mrs. Makinde encouraged them to actively participate in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

She reminded them that their bodies belong to them, asserting that no one has the right to touch them without their consent.

She also emphasized the importance of speaking up against sexual and gender-based violence, appealing to students to report any incidents of harassment or sexual violation to their parents, the police, or any trusted adult.

Mrs. Makinde’s campaign against gender-based violence is part of a broader effort to promote a culture of respect and dignity for all individuals.

In her remarks, a representative of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Awosemusi charged victims of gender-based violence to report any cases of GBV to the police and ensure they visit the hospital for treatment.

In her address, the representative of the Nigeria Police Force, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Funke Aiyenigbara said that there is physical, emotional, and psychological abuse saying that every victim must speak up and not die in silence.

Also, the Commissioner for Special Duty, Alhaja Fausat Joke Sanni, said that it is not only females who suffer sexual abuse but also that it is prevalent among women and girls who do suffer abuse.

She encouraged men who suffered any form of abuse to speak up noting that whatever abuse done to men who raped and abused girls can also be done to such men.

Speaking to the newsmen, a student of St. Bernadine’s Girls’ Grammar School, Kemi Ajenifuja, called on governments at all levels to provide counselors in all schools to help victims who have suffered abuse.

She expressed her gratitude to the First Lady for her role in boosting the self-esteem of females in the state and her great impact on female students within the state.

The schools that participated in the campaign are; St Bernadine’s Girls Grammar School, Oyo, Community High School, Durbar, Oyo, Anglican Methodist Secondary School 1, Oyo, Community High School, Ajagba, Oyo, Durbar Grammar School, Durbar, Oyo, and Anglican Methodist Secondary School, Oyo.