Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, has called on stakeholders to collaborate in the fight against violence targeting women and girls in the state.
The first lady emphasized that only a collective effort can effectively eradicate the menace of sexual and gender-based violence.
Speaking at a sensitization program themed “Unite Against Violence Against Women and Girls,” held at St. Bernadine’s Girls Grammar School, Oyo, Mrs. Makinde highlighted the importance of creating awareness and educating the public on the issue.
She noted that programs like this are critical in reducing the prevalence of gender-based violence in the state.
Addressing the students, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde encouraged them to actively participate in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.
She reminded them that their bodies belong to them, asserting that no one has the right to touch them without their consent.
She also emphasized importance of speaking up against sexual and gender-based violence, appealing to students to report any incidents of harassment or sexual violation to their parents, the police, or any trusted adult.
Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde’s campaign against gender-based violence is part of a broader effort to promote a culture of respect and dignity for all individuals.
In his remarks, representative of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Awosemusi charged victims of gender based violence to report any of the cases of GBV to police and ensure they visit hospital for treatment.
In her address, the representative of Nigeria Police Force, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Funke Aiyenigbara said that there is physical, emotional, and psychological abuse saying that it imperative for every victims to speak up and not die in silence.
Also, the Commissioner for Special duty, Alhaja Fausat Joke Sanni said that it is not only the female that suffered sexual abuse but prevalent in women and girls but do suffered abuse.
She encouraged men that usually suffered any form of abuse to speak up,noting that whatever abuse done to men who raped and abuse girls can also be done to such men.
Speaking to the newsmen, A student of St Bernadine’s girls grammar school, Kemi Ajenifuja called on governments at all levels to provide counselor in all schools to help victims that suffered any kind of abuse.
She expressed her gratitude to the wife of the governor for her motherly role to boost female in the state self-esteem and her great impact on female students in the state.
The Schools that participated in the campaign are; St Bernadine’s Girls Grammar School, Oyo, Community High School, Durbar, Oyo, Anglican Methodist Secondary School 1, Oyo, Community High School, Ajagba, Oyo, Durbar Grammar School, Durbar, Oyo, and Anglican Methodist Secondary School, Oyo.
