Health

YcDEI Trains Female Christian Leaders on Tackling Gender-Based Violence

By Web News 173

By Titilayo Kupoliyi

Nipping Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the bud is a collective responsibility.

This was the submission of participants at the end of a 4-day workshop in Ibadan, organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation; Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YcDEI).

The participants, who were all female Christian leaders were selected across the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) from five (5) local governments in Ibadan.

They were trained on issues relating to Gender-Based Violence, including meaning, forms, causes and consequences of GBV and further explored how cultural norms, religious beliefs, myths and stereotypes create an enabling environment for GBV to thrive.

During the capacity building workshop, participants also examined topics such as gender roles; religious’ and stakeholders’ responsibilities in handling GBV cases; creating safe spaces and support system for survivors of GBV.

Two of the participants, Mrs Sarah Oluwatoyin and Dr. Bosade Ogunlana described the programme as timely and pledged to work with other stakeholders to reduce Gender-Based Violence to the barest minimum.

Dr Ogunlana said, “It has been a great opportunity to be part of this programme, I am ready to work with organisations to end every form of Gender-Based Violence”.

Mrs Oluwatoyin also affirmed that “Personally, I am ready to be an ambassador to fight against Gender-Based Violence as from now”.

The convener of the Programme and the Executive Director of YcDEI, Professor Adefunke Ekine opined that the training was organised for female Christian religious leaders who are also representatives of different Christian denominations in a bid to brainstorm and unravel all forms of Gender-Based Violences that may be occurring within the church.

Professor Ekine identified the vital role the church plays as a great pillar of influence in the home, community and the society as a whole.

She pointed out that women were more passionate about addressing issues relating to Gender-Based Violence as females constitutes the major survivors of GBV, hence the choice of participants.

The YcDEI Executive Director noted that GBV is on the increase and that religious leaders are also part of key stakeholders that are needed to convey messages to their congregation.

“Most people listen to their leaders in church as they see them as God’s representatives”

“Females are passionate about issues that affect their gender and will handle it with all seriousness”.

Furthermore, Professor Ekine pointed out that the Christian faith has some subtle biblical injunctions that are misinterpreted and had enhanced GBV even in churches.

For instance, 1 Corinthians 14: 34 says women should keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission as the law says.

Also, another bible verse that had often been mis-interpreted is 1 Peter 3:7 which says ‘Likewise, husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as a weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.’

She added that there was also a general misconception that the male child is superior to the female, hence giving them audacity to silence the female most times.

Professor Ekine emphasised that the female Christian leaders who are custodian of faith, beliefs, culture and norms, could serve as voices and role model to other girls / women in their sphere of influence, thereby encouraging them to speak up whenever they were being molested.

The participants were also presented with certificates at the end of the workshop.

They are also expected to commence sensitization on Gender-Based Violence from their churches and proceed to other churches in their catchment areas; visiting churches and counselling GBV survivors, alongside a staff representative of YcDEI in their team.

The training which began on 31st March, 2025, had in attendance representatives from Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Catholic Women Organisation.

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Crime

Speak Out, NASFAT Tells Victims of GBV

By Web News 1297

By Fasilat Lawal

Victims of Gender Based Violence have been told to voice out their ordeal to get justice.

Zonal Chairman, Local Organizing Committee of the 30th Anniversary of  Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih-Society, NAFSAT Oyo Zone 1,  Mr Mohammed Akanbi stated this during a fitness walk to Bodija market to sensitize people  as parts of activities commemorating the anniversary in Ibadan 

Mr Akanbi explained that the issue of Gender Based Violence was prevalent in society, resulting in girls and women being emotionally demoralized and subjected to untold hardship.

Secretary of the Local Organizing Committee of NASFAT 30th Anniversary, Hajiya Shakira Yusuf, speaking on the theme of the walk” Gender Based Violence” said the fitness walk and the theme were carefully chosen to create awareness among the increased number of violated women and girls who had refused to amplify their voices to get justice. 

 In a remark, the Zonal Chairman of NAFSAT, Oyo Zone 1, Alhaji Abdul Razak Fadahunsi,  explained that besides its voice against GBV,  the association equally sought to urge male and female gender to embrace dialogue rather than resorting to violence. 

Alhaji Fadahunsi noted that to complement the government’s effort to tackle GBV,  the organization, as part of its programme,  seeks justice for people who are violated,  and encourages victims of GBV to avail themselves of the free service. 

He called on the government to partner with non-governmental organisations to end GBV and ensure violators are adequately penalized. 

 The fitness walk, which started from Samonda, cut through Sango, Awolowo, Bodija Market and, back to Samonda.

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Crime

GBV: Discussants Canvass More Collaboration among Stakeholders

By Web News 413

By Fasilat Lawal

Discussants at a day symposium on ways to end gender-based violence, GBV, say strong collaboration among stakeholders is required to tackle the problem.

The event organized by Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists NAWOJ Oyo State Chapter in Collaboration with Women in Media and sponsored by Voice of Women Foundation was to mark the 16 Days Activism to Ending Gender-Based Violence held at International Institute of Church and Societies, Samonda, Ibadan.

The panel of discussants, which included The Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi, Dr Kunle Awotiku and Hajya Sururat Oyero explained that women faced a lot of disorders resulting from Gender Base Violence which affects their productivity.

They called for more collaboration among stakeholders to change the narrative.

Speaking on the theme,’ Invest to Prevent Violence among Women and Girl Child’ ‘, Chairperson of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Chief Dotun Olaitan, who was represented by Mrs Lola Osamyin called on the government to invest in educating the girl child’, empower women, support the violated ones and seek justice for them.


Earlier, in an address of welcome, the Chairperson of NAWOJ, Oyo Chapter, Mrs Jadesola Ajibola, who noted that Gender Violence was not peculiar to Female Gender, pointed out that some men also suffer violence from their wives.

Mrs Ajibola explained that to curb the menace, there was a need for continuous sensitization of the public, and that affected people should speak out to be free from violence that could result in depression and death.

In a goodwill message, a nongovernmental organization, Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, represented by an assistant director in Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Ibadan, Mrs Morenike Tony-Esan,  expressed support for efforts being made to address gender issues in the country.
Other women’s associations in Oyo State were also present at the occasion.


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Lifestyle

Mrs. Makinde Seeks Protection for Victims of GBV

By Web News 1799

As the 16 days of activism of violence against women ended, members of the society have been advised to desist from stigmatizing victims of gender-based violence, GBV.

 The wife of the Oyo state governor Mrs Tamunominini Makinde stated this while donating some cash gifts to some of the victims of  GBV.

Mrs Makinde said the society must rise up to protect the victims and frown at the act by not shielding perpetrators from the laws stating that no woman or girl must be abused physically, emotionally and psychologically. 

Commissioner of police in the state, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko explained that the Force had over 100 cases of GBV, while some had been convicted.

In her contribution at the program Commissioner for Women Affairs and social inclusion, Mrs. Kafilat Adegbola explained that Oyo state was putting everything in place to end gender-based violence, while her counter part in Special Duties, Mrs Joke Sanni said cases of violence against women should be reported to the police without delay while commending the laudable role Oyo state is playing at checking the menace.

The victims thanked the state government for the support and promised to utilize the money well.

16 days of activism against gender-based violence is part of activities marking the day of the Elimination of violence against women.

Seyifunmi Olarinde