Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion

By Seyifunmi Olarinde

The alarming rate of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV, among girls and women in Nigeria is becoming worrisome, calling for urgent advocacy for prevention and reduction.

‎At a programe organized by the Nigeria’s Governor’s Spouses Forum and the office of the wife of Oyo state governor, Chief Tamunominini Makinde, stakeholders highlighted ignorance, stigmatization and culture of silence as hindrances to total eradication of SGBV.

‎One of them, The Eleruwa of Eruwa ,Oba Samuel Adegbola described the increasing rate of SGBV in the grassroots level as disheartening.

‎Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun and Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi called for a society where unity of purpose would end social vices.

‎She identified rape,emotional violence,child marriage as some forms of gender based violence, noting that abuses usually lead to incurable and lifelong diseases and at times death.

‎Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion ,Mrs Christiana Abioye wants women to be empowered , calling on the victims to always speak out.

‎The Oyo state chairman, Rapid Response Team on gender based violence ,Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mr Martins Williams, said the team worked round the clock in responding promptly to issues of sexual and gender based violence.

‎In her remark, Chief Tamunominini Makinde, called on traditional rulers and local government chairmen wives to reach out to the people in their domains by enlightening them on the implications of being molested and the advantages of speaking out when abused.

Meanwhile,‎ Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has given assurance that his administration would provide political leadership, budgetary support, and executive backing for laws aimed at preventing GBV.

‎Governor Makinde gave the assurance while hosting representatives of Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum in partnership with an NGO, led by his wife, Mrs. Tamunomini Makinde on advocacy visit.

‎Governor Makinde also promised that his administration would work with the state House of Assembly to ensure adequate budgetary allocation for GBV prevention and response mechanisms.

‎Earlier, wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Tamunomini Makinde, had called for commitment to preventing gender-based violence in the state.

‎Mrs. Makinde emphasized that GBV was not only a social problem but also a development challenge, governance issue, and silent economic drain.

‎The Governor’s wife sought support in three key areas including political leadership that prioritizes GBV prevention, sustained budgetary allocation for prevention and response mechanisms, and executive backing for the implementation of existing laws, particularly the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child’s Rights Law.

‎Mrs Makinde who reiterated that mother’s and care givers should be attentive and sensitive to the languages of their children, called on elders to always speak openly against SGBV, speak up for and protect survivors.

‎The event featured poetry rendition and playlet on sexual and gender based violence.

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By Olumide Ogunbiyi

Policymakers, activists, traditional leaders, and development partners have called for technology-driven action to eliminate female genital mutilation, FGM, describing it as a persistent human rights violation that demands scalable, innovative solutions.

The call dominated a multi-sectoral symposium in Ibadan held as part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The event, themed “Leveraging Technology to End Gender-Based Violence,” took place at the Oyo State Local Government Training Centre, Government Secretariat, Agodi.

Delivering the keynote address, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, said FGM remains both a public health emergency and a gross violation of women’s rights despite progress in legislation and advocacy.

“While progress has been made through legislation and advocacy, the deep-rooted cultural beliefs sustaining FGM require smarter, more scalable interventions. Technology offers us unprecedented tools for education, reporting, and support,” she said.

Mrs. Balogun commended collective efforts that have reduced FGM prevalence in Oyo State from 68 percent to 18 percent, describing the development as evidence of the effectiveness of coordinated action.

Also speaking, UNFPA Gender/FGM Analyst for the South West, Mrs Uzoma Ayodeji, said Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of FGM cases globally, with notable prevalence in several states, including parts of Oyo.

“Technology can bridge gaps in data collection, real-time monitoring, and access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors,” she said.

Earlier, Director of the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health (CCPRH), Emeritus Professor Oladosu Ojengbede, presented a draft action plan to the commissioner.

He explained that the proposal outlines a coordination framework, a Ministry/SGBVRT-led technical review, and pathways for integrating digital platforms into both review and implementation.

“We must ensure that technology does not only gather data but triggers action and accountability,” Professor Ojengbede said.

Traditional institutions and community-based organisations at the symposium pledged to intensify awareness campaigns using WhatsApp groups and other digital platforms to amplify anti-FGM messaging.

Participants drawn from the health, education, justice, and traditional sectors also examined integrated approaches to prevention, reporting, and survivor support.

The symposium was organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in collaboration with CCPRH, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

As the 16 Days of Activism continue, Oyo State has positioned itself as a leading force in the fight against gender-based violence, leveraging innovation, collaboration, and sustained political commitment.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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