Ekiti Rounds off 16 days of activism against GBV with Sensitisation, Empowerment
Ekiti State government has empowered not fewer than 100 survivors of Gender Based Violence in the State with one hundred thousand (N100,000.00) Naira to start a business with a view to cushioning the effects of the violence.
The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, while presenting the cheques to the survivors, called on Nigerians to support stakeholders in the fight against Gender-Based Violence.
The Governor’s Wife, who also took part in a sensitization road walk to commemorate the 2024 16-days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence against women and girls in Ekiti State, expressed her regret that the menace is threatening the peaceful atmosphere around women in the society.
She added that Ekiti State government during the Governor Biodun Oyebanji led- administration will ensure that survivors of GBV live their life without any form of discrimination, adding that any body caught in the act would be punished under the law.
Dr. Oyebanji assured the survivors that the financial assistance from government was to assure them that they are not alone in the struggle against the abnormal trend.
She said, “The support you receive today is a seed of hope. Nurture it, and let it enhance your vocation and businesses. This token of support is a reminder that you are not forgotten and that you have a community that stands by you”.
Speaking further, Dr Oyebanji requested that people that are violated or privy to information about anybody being violated around them should endeavor to speak out by contacting relevant security agencies, Ministry of Women Affairs, Governor’s wife office among others, to avoid treating the issue with kid glove as well as nipping the menace in the bud once and for all.
She described battery against women, child labour and trafficking, female Genital Mutilation, rape as among anti social behaviours which constitute Gender- Based violence.
“As we round off the campaign against GBV in Ekiti State, I stand as the Wife of the Governor and the Chairperson of the State Gender Based Violence Management Committee to say all hands should be on deck to kick GBV out of our state and we shall do everything possible to achieve this”, she said.
Also addressing the mammoth crowd, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Monisade Afuye, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olapeju Babafemi and the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr Akinwale Adeniran all unanimously called on Ekiti residents to assist in stopping the menace.
They echoed that Ekiti State is among the few states of the federation where the fight is being noticed, adding that the recognition can only be sustained when all the stakeholders see the fight against the menace as a collective one.
The road walk which was staged across major streets and market places like Okesa, Bisi market, Fajuyi Park and Post Office areas of Ado Ekiti had in attendance the Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly , Rt Hon Bolaji Olagbaju, Exco members, Head of Service, Dr Folake Olomojobi, among others.
