Governance

By Omolara Adasofunjo

Ogun State Commissioner for  Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Adijat Adeleye has defended over one billion naira budget proposal for the Ministry contained in the State 2024 budget appropriation bill, with a request for more support from the Assembly towards checkmating Gender-Based Violence and gender inequality.

Mrs Adeleye, while appearing before the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Mr Musefiu Lamidi at the commencement of the Year 2024 budget defence held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that, out of the total budget, the sum of N353m would go for capital projects.

She explained that over N651m was being earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of over N12m was being expected as revenue for the period.

 The Commissioner stated that part of the budget objectives was to ensure the completion of rehabilitation of Fatty Lammy Rehabilitation Centre at Oke-Ilewo and that of Women Development Centre at  Kobape amongst others. 

She commended the Assembly for identifying with the Ministry through their strategic roles of orientating the grassroots on gender-based issues, especially the enactment of relevant laws to protect women and other vulnerable groups.

Some agencies that defended their budget estimates for the next fiscal year included the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, Youths and Sports Ministry as well as the Office of the  Auditor General for State and its  Local Government counterpart.

Security

Effective communication between mother and child has been identified as a key factor to early detection of sexual and gender-based violence in children.

A public speaker, Mr Anthony Fasehun stated this in a lecture entitled “Responding to the crime of child defilement” at a 2-day seminar organised by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Oyo State Command.

Our correspondent, Rasheedah Makinde, captured the moment for Radio Nigeria.

https://radionigeriaibadan.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NSCDC-SEXUAL-VIOLENT-RPT.mp3

Mr Fasheun said building a bond between parents and children would enhance cordial relationship that would encourage an open communication to avoid keeping sexual violence secret.

He noted that sound parenting education was key if there would be a stop to any form of violence towards children, especially the girl-child.

Mr Fasheun opined that monitoring the character and movement of children would build support and awareness among all stakeholders in order to ensure adequate protection.

Another speaker, Mrs Ibukun Otesile said the role of community in preventing children from sexual and gender violence could not be overemphasised.

She said people should shun the act of shielding sexual violence suspects but work collectively with relevant stakeholders to reduce the menace to the barest minimum.

Mrs Otesile added that the community should always encourage and support victims of child violence to the nearest hospital for prompt attention.

Some mothers at the conference expressed appreciation and promised readiness to support the law and protect their children against any form of violence.

Contributing, the guest of honour, wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Omini Makinde who spoke through the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora, Mrs Bolanle Sarumi-Aliu, said mothers should deploy all means possible to protect their children and safeguard their tomorrow.

Mrs Makinde therefore called on government at all levels to partner the relevant stakeholders in collectively fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGDV.

Earlier, while declaring the conference open, NSCDC commandant in Oyo state, Mr Iskilu Akinsanya, said the conference became imperative in order to sensitive the public on what to do reduce the menace.

The two day capacity building programme with the theme “Responding to the crime of the child defilement” featured different activities including presentation of award to some distinguished officers of the NSCDC.

Rasheedah Makinde

Lifestyle

Ogun state government says is committed to the fighting domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence in the state.

Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun stated this at the launch and inauguration of the Nigeria Police Family Support Unit and its facility for the Sango Ota Area Command, held at the Command Headquarters, Sango Ota.

Mrs. Abiodun who is the Chairperson of the Management Committee of Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP, Law described continuous enlightenment as crucial to the elimination of domestic violence where the community could serve as part of the system of support for survivors.

The wife of Ogun State Governor while pointing out that Family Support Unit, FSU, remained a safe haven encouraged the victims to speak up without fear of intimidation or stigmatization.

Also, Wife of the State Commissioner of Police and Chairperson of Police Officers’ Wives Association, POWA, Mrs. Habiba Ajogun described the initiative as first of its kind in the history of the command which she  noted would serve other communities especially Lagos.

In a remark, the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege commended the state government for the laudable initiative, adding that the unit would help to ensure Justice for victims particularly women and girls.Earlier. The Area Commander, Sango Ota Area Command, Mr. Monday Agbonika, had acknowledged the contribution of the wife of the governor in championing the course and providing support in the area of training of Officers manning the unit and provision of the needed logistics.

Olusegun Folarin

Politics

Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde has charged all female political appointees and wives of the local government caretaker chairmen in the state to speak out on how to end the incessant killing of innocent women, gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the state.

Mrs. Makinde made this known, during a virtual interactive session with all wives of the state’s local government caretaker chairmen, held at the conference room, Office of Her Excellency, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

While speaking through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. Funmilayo Orisadeyi, Mrs. Makinde said the meeting was imperative, as she felt that the reported cases of rape and gender-based violence have become rampant, hence the need to stamp it out.

She, however, appealed to the women in the state to speak out on how to put a stop to the incessant killing of innocent women, violence against women and the girl-child as well as raping which is now high in the society.

In her remarks, wife of the Caretaker Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Mrs. Ajarat Jimoh lauded the governor’s wife for her campaign against rape, adding that any positive means to fight against scourge was going to be put into consideration.

The virtual meeting was attended by the wives of the local government chairmen across the State, present among them are Mrs. Akande Mojoyinola of Ibadan South West Local Government, Mrs. Olaniye Folake of Obarapa Central Local Government, Mrs. Jumoke Akanbi, of Ibadan North Local Government, Mrs. Raji Sekinat, of Atisbo Local Government, Mrs. Busari Olanike Aiirat, of Saki West Local Government, Mrs. Omolola Alawode, of Ibadan South West Local Government, Mrs. Halimat Ibrahim of Atiba Local Government, Mrs. Jimoh Ajarat, of Akinyele Local Government and Mrs. Oyinloye Monsurat, of Iwajowa Local Government.

Also in attendance was Mrs Ajagbe Miftiah of Ogbomoso South, Mrs Suliamon Ayisat, of Irepo Local Government, Hajia Arowosaye of Oyo East, Mrs Shittu .A, of Ibarapa North, Mrs Akinola L.A, of Itesiwaju, Mrs Abilawon Sade, of Iseyin Local Government, Mrs Afolabi Martar of Kajola, Mrs Najeem Odiat, Saki East, Mrs Obelawo Victoria, Ibarapa East, Mrs Salami Khadija Opeyemi, Oyo West, Mrs Okeleye Deborah Olabisi, Afijio, Mrs Folasade Egbewoyin of Egbeda Local Government, Mrs Oyedokun Oyeniyi Eunice, Ogbomoso Local Government, Mrs Ayandeji Jeremiah, Olorunsogo Igbeti, Mrs Adepoju Folasade Aiirat of Ibadan North West, and Mrs Kelani R. B of Lagelu local government area.

Lara Ayoade

Crime

Civil Society organisations in Ondo State staged a walk against rape calling on the Federal government to declare a state of emergency on gender based violence in Nigeria.

Speaking on this trend, the CEO, Kids & Teens Resource Centre, Martin-Mary Falana on behalf of other organizations called on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.

The conveyor, Folashade Bamigboye advocated for effective implementation of existing laws aimed at protecting children and the domestication of the VAPP laws across all states to create a safety net for girls and women in Nigeria.

According to her, since the Uwa case occurred and got so much public attention, many more cases had been reported across Nigeria. There had been the case of 18-year-old Barakat Bello in Ibadan who was raped to death, the 12-year-old girl in Jigawa raped by 12 men including a 67-year old man, the 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje who was a victim of her guardian’s criminal tendency. 

Similarly in Ondo state, a Pastor of Holy Ghost Mission Church Ehinogbe, Owo, Ondo state, Peter Alatake, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly raping a 16-year-old secondary school girl suffering from epilepsy during a ‘deliverance’ session in his church. An undergraduate, Femi Adejuwon raped a 16-year-old secondary school leaver in Akure, the Ondo state capital, to mention a few.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Queen TKO Foundation, Olori  Funmilayo Aladetoyinbo cried over the trend of incest and child molestation in Ondo State, and advocated stiffer penalty to abusers of child’s rights and called for establishment of Action Committees on GBV in communities and religious institutions to tackle child sexual abuse in the state.

Addressing the various civil society organisations on a walk at Adegbemile centre in Akure, the Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development and Chairperson, Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Gender Issues, Hon Favour Tomomewo said efforts were in top gear to domesticate the Violence Against Persons and Property Act (VAPP) which would further protect women and girls in Ondo State.

Disturbed by the cruel incidences of rape and molestation of minors in the state, she joined her voice with the advocates by requesting that the Federal Government declare a state of emergency on Rape.

The event brought together civil society actors, SGBV survivors and specialists and they unanimously called for increased commitment and political will to end SGBV. They called on Government to strengthen SGBV prevention and response as a priority. 

The actors; ForHer initiative, Girls to Women Research and Development Centre, Better Living Foundation, Gender and the Girl Child Development, Kick Against Molestation Initiative, Queen TKO Foundation, The Etabitha Project and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps among others took turns and shared their views, ordeals and wishes on cases of rape, child molestation and killings of girls and women in Nigeria and called for Death Penalty for perpetrators.

Click to listen

https://radionigeriaibadan.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DAY-CHILD-LABOUR.mp3

Olufisoye Adenitan