2 months ago
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Ekiti State Government has enlisted increased support from stakeholders including the leadership of the local governments, traditional leaders, religious bodies, civil society and the general public to strengthen the fight against Gender-Based Violence.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, said that despite efforts, GBV had continued to wreak havoc in society, shattering ambitions and sending many to their untimely graves, thus requiring increased efforts to checkmate it.
The deputy governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday at the closing of a two-day workshop on GBV organised by the Office of the Ekiti State First Lady in collaboration with the state Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
Afuye called on critical stakeholders “to coalesce efforts with Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to defeat the festering menace of rape, sexual molestation, female genital mutilation and other anti-social conducts in Ekiti.”
She said, “The menace of GBV has destroyed so many families, shattered beautiful ambitions and sent many to their untimely graves. It is a monster that has ravaged many homes. Therefore, it must be fought collectively to a standstill in our society.”
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, called for a united approach to GBV through “policies and actions that bring about meaningful change and reshape public attitudes.”
The First Lady, represented by the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, said, “GBV is not just a violation of human rights; it is a societal menace that undermines the dignity, safety, and progress of our communities. We cannot allow any form of violence, discrimination or abuse to continue unchecked.
“This workshop offers an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders to learn, share and strengthen our efforts to eradicate GBV in Ekiti State. It is crucial that we use this platform to develop effective strategies, increase public awareness and enhance the enforcement of laws aimed at protecting the vulnerable.
“Together, we can build a society where every individual is free from fear, harm, and oppression. I therefore call on all concerned parties—not only in government but also in the private sector, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies, traditional rulers, and private practitioners—to join this fight as champions of justice and peace,” the governor’s wife said.
Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), who described GBV as a monster, said, “This workshop is timely. It is another opportunity being given to Ekiti State to expand the frontiers by taking it to the local governments.”
Apata said that in addition to the many interventions, the Ministry of Justice had devised ways through which offenders were speedily prosecuted, saying, “within the last one year, we had about 30 cases which we have concluded the prosecution, out of which we secured 24 convictions.”
Welcoming dignitaries and participants earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr Folorunso Olabode, who said GBV was a serious violence against the integrity of the victims, urged the citizens to always speak up to be able to tame the “monster”.
Olabode said, “GBV, in its various forms, undermines the safety, dignity and well-being of individuals, particularly women and children and it is an affront to their basic human rights. Our communities as a whole, suffer from the consequences of such violence which perpetrates cycles of poverty, instability and inequality.”
The commissioner said that “the workshop provided us with the platform to deliberate on actionable steps, share insights and learn from best practices that can help curb this menace in our communities”.
Present at the programme were the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Bolaji Olagbaju; the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Maryam Ogunlade; and local government chairmen led by the Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Oluwasegun Ojo.
Others included the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Commissioner for Education, Dr Kofoworola Aderiye; wives of local government chairmen, civil servants, trade union leaders, women groups across the 16 Local Government and the Local Council Development Areas.
