The Kwara State Government in collaboration with Olive Community Development Initiave (OCDI) on Wednesday (March 4, 2020) inaugurated a 15-man committee that will scale up action on Violence against Women and Girl’s Child.
The inauguration exercise which also featured two days training titled “Psychosocial Support Training & Inauguration of Committee on Domestic Violence” was held at Marriage Registry, Kwara State Ministry of Social Development, Ilorin.
The members of the committee were drawn from various disciplines such as Civil Society Organizations, Law enforcement agents, media practitioners, Medical Personnel among others.
This violence against women project is being sponsored by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with actionaid Nigeria and being handled by OCDI.
Inaugurating the 15-man committee, the Kwara state Commissioner for Special Duty, Mrs Oyedun Funke Julianah said the sate government would continue to prioritize and support programs and activities that promote the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence and discrimination in the state.
“Part of the responsibilities of ministry of special duties is to partner and liaise with NGOs in al their programs and activities, and today, we are here for the inauguration of the Committee on Domestic Violence in partnership with Olive Community Development initiative (OCDI)”.
“Crimes like rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and traficking of women and girls shall no longer be tolerated anywhere in the state” she promised.
The Commissioner charged the newly inaugurated committee to be up and doing and ensure they discharge their responsibilities with all sense of duty by creating a friendly environment for women and girls where they can achieve their dreams without fear of any forms of molestation.
While saying that the magnitude of violence against women and girls in the society today is very alarming and disgraceful, the Commissioner gave assurance that the state government would not fold its arms to allow some bad elements ruin the life and future of women and girls in the society.
Mrs Julianah pledged that women and girl’s child wellbeing and safety both in private and public places would be guaranteed by the state government.
In his comment, the representative of Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Mr Sunday Gbenle, promised the readiness of his men and officers to join hands with OCDI through the committee to enable the organization achieve it’s set goals and objectives.
Also speaking, a representative of Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, (NACTAL) Hajia Biliqees Oladimeji called on Nigerian government to make Child Right Document available to schools at all levels of education to protect the right of the girl child.
Mrs Oladimeji also urged the Religion leaders and traditional rulers in the country to support the advocacy on giving voice to women against violence.
She called on men to protect their wives by remaining patient, appreciate and support them in building a virile home.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Director at the Kwara state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Dr (Mrs) Zainab Balogun said all hands must be on deck to eliminate violence against women, child tratlicking and all other forms of human-inhuman treatment in the country.
The programmes manager of OCDI, Mojoyinola Adewuyi said the committee was set up to serve as a swift response team to all manners of violence against women and girls in the state.
Adewuyi explained that the committee was peopled by men and women of proven integrity who were drawn from various fields of human endeavours.
She was confident that the birth of the committee would stem the tide of violence against women and girls in the state and beyond.
End.
