At Awka Women’s Summit; First Ladies Of Osun, Anambra Proffer Ways Out Of Violence Against Women

By Ayodele Oni

Wife of Osun State Governor and Chairperson of Southern Governors Wives Forum (SGWF), Mrs Kafayat Oyetola has impressed it on mothers to rise up to the challenge of gender-based violence (GBV) by teaching children relevant values that enhance human dignity.

She was speaking in Awka, Anambra State, during the 2021 Anambra Women’s Summit,

Mrs Oyetola stated that the onset of coronavirus pandemic has further worsened the incidents of GBV across the States in Nigeria.

According to her “women are usually more at the receiving end of these harmful acts, especially during the time of crisis such as the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

“We mothers have a great role to play in fighting this social menace. GBV is not a natural disaster. It is a social crisis that emanates from wrong and dysfunctional orientation.

“If we are to fight it, we must go to the root causes. These lead directly to our homes. Mothers are the first handlers of the orientation of our boys and our girls. Therefore, we should start in our homes by training our children on the relevant values that enhance human dignity.

“When men and boys respect the women and girls, and refrain from on-leashing violence on them, our society will be safer and much more productive.”

The issue of gender-based violence has become a major problem. It is a country-wide challenge. It has raised great health concerns.”

While highlighting various ways GBV could be perpetrated, the Osun State first lady listed verbal harassment, mutilation of the female body through traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, as well as denial and blockade from resources sometimes based on matrimonial status or widowhood status.

Others include subjection of women to injurious activity based on harmful practices, such as rape, beating and assaulting of women, among others.

“When we talk about gender-based violence, we should not limit our attention to rape and sexual violence alone. Let us look at every other harmful activities that make our women incapable of living a dignified and fulfilling life.”

In his opening remarks, one of the resource persons, who delivered a paper at the summit, Professor Chike Okoye stated that the problem of gender-based violence such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, torture, high handedness, and physical punishment among others, exposed children to the dangers associated with the menace.

The wife of the governor of Anambra state, Lady (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano, who hosted the parley, commended other Governors’ wives in the country for their determination to confront the challenge of gender-based violence in our society.