The Ekiti State Government has heightened its efforts in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by engaging key stakeholders, including local government leaders, traditional rulers, religious groups, civil society organizations, and the general public.
The campaign aims to address the rising cases of violence that have plagued the state, particularly affecting women and children.
At a two-day workshop organized in collaboration between the Office of the Ekiti State First Lady and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, the state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, emphasized the urgent need for a collective response to the menace.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti, she noted that despite previous initiatives, GBV continues to cause devastating harm to individuals and families, with many lives lost prematurely as a result of the violence.
Afuye stressed that a united front involving all critical stakeholders is necessary to defeat acts such as rape, sexual assault, and female genital mutilation, which continue to erode the social fabric of the state.
She called for collaborative efforts with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to curb these harmful practices and restore safety and dignity to affected communities.
The First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, called for comprehensive policies and actions that would bring meaningful change.
She highlighted the importance of reshaping public attitudes toward violence and ensuring that the fight against GBV remains a top priority.
Dr. Oyebanji pointed out that gender-based violence is not just a violation of human rights but a societal issue that threatens the progress of communities.
She urged all stakeholders, from government bodies to private sector players, non-governmental organizations, and traditional leaders, to contribute to eradicating GBV and promoting a culture of justice and peace.
In his remarks, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), commended the timing of the workshop and described it as an opportunity to extend the campaign against GBV to the grassroots.
Apata outlined the state’s efforts in prosecuting offenders, revealing that within the last year, 30 cases had been prosecuted, resulting in 24 convictions.
The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Folorunso Olabode, noted that GBV undermines the safety, dignity, and well-being of individuals, particularly women and children.
He called for more people to speak up against these crimes, stressing that community involvement is crucial in breaking the cycles of violence, poverty, and inequality perpetuated by GBV.
The workshop, which gathered stakeholders from various sectors, provided a platform for discussions on strategies to tackle gender violence and raise public awareness.
Participants included prominent figures such as the Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Bolaji Olagbaju; the Chairperson of the House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Maryam Ogunlade; and local government chairpersons led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Oluwasegun Ojo.
The event also saw the participation of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi; the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kofoworola Aderiye; wives of local government chairmen, civil servants, trade union leaders, and women’s groups from across Ekiti’s 16 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.
