Gender Based Violence, A Wide Spread Problem, Says Ogun Women Affairs Commissioner

ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Government has said that despite many positive and significant achievements in politics and professional status of Women, gender based violence remains a wide spread problem at all level of life in the world, however, the state is head bent in the elimination of all forms of violence in the state.

The Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Funmi Eduwape gave this assurance during a 3 Day Training on “Rapid Response/Management of Gender Based Violence Occurrence in The State for Social Welfare Officer” held at Women Development Center, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.

Efuwape, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Hon. Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye charged the officers as major player in combating the menace of gender based violence, to contribute their quoters to building a just society, free from discrimination against women and girl child.

She said her ministry is working relentlessly towards ensuring that gender based violence is being eliminated from our society, emphasing that one of the visions of her ministry is to build a just society, free from discrimination against women and the girl-child,

Welcoming participants to the training, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs, Melutia Ogunremi, said , gender equality is the foundation for a peaceful and sustainable world and it includes the world being free from all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres.

She said this training was necessary for all social welfare officer as they play a major role in combating the menace of gender based violence, urging them to be strengthened in their capacity in order to perform as expected.

Thereafter, the guest lecturer, who is a seasoned Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Sunday Sannni spoke extensively on the various forms of abuse that have been accepted as normal norms in our society, saying the officers should ensure the menace is corrected.

He said people tend to attribute reasons to justify their evil act, saying such excuses include the saying that gender based violence was as a result of a pattern of dressing, being in a wrong place at the wrong time as well as being naturally promiscuous.

Sanni said “no man has any reason whatever to harass a woman even if she walks naked in the street”.