The Federal Government has said that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of the greatest ills against humanity that requires the deployment of collective efforts and measures in order to ensure its eradication from society.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye made the call Tuesday, in Abuja during the Annual High Level Gender Based Violence Summit of Traditional and Religious Leaders in Nigeria and West Africa under the auspices of UN Women and Ford Foundation.
She stated that the Summit is aimed at tackling the lingering issues bordering on gender based violence within the West African Union
Kennedy-Ohanenye stated further that the increasing rate of GBV in the region poses a barrier to social cohesion as it demeans the dignity and capability of the feminine gender, thus affecting their capacity to compete favourably with their male counterparts in all fields of endeavour
The Minister observed that, “we cannot easily appreciate the magnitude of challenges our women and girls are confronted with due to some harmful gender norms which are not only used to widen the gap of gender equality but also demean the dignity of women and the girl-child”.
Kennedy-Ohanenye who described traditional and religious leaders as agents of change in every society, expressed optimism that with the calibre of the people at the Summit, the fight against GBV and other harmful practices that are inimical to women will yield positive dividends.
She therefore appealed to the institutions to make concerted efforts towards the eradication of GBV across the West African Sub-region by working assiduously with a view to effecting changes in all negative behavioural attitudes, norms and practices that hinder the rights and privileges of women.
The Minister informed that under her watch, the Ministry of Women Affairs had commenced the empowerment of Nigerian women through skill acquisition as well as provision of sustainable empowerment equipment to enable them develop themselves, earn and make meaningful contributions to the upkeep of their families as well as in the socio-economic growth of the nation, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
She informed further that part of the measures put in place by the Ministry was the establishment of Mobile Courts to ensure quick dispensation of justice on GBV related matters.
In his presentation, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, commended the Minister for her resilience and passionate strides towards scaling up the socio-economic status of Nigerian women through sustainable empowerment initiatives.
He expressed optimism that the Summit will provide opportunity for brainstorming in order to proffer lasting solutions to the prevalent cases of feminine challenges that impede the growth and development of women in the region.
Other dignitaries at the Summit include; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Most Rev. Daniel Oko, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, traditional and religious leaders from Niger Republic, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia as well as Civil Society Organizations, among others.
Signed
Mrs. Grace Njoku
Head, Information & Public Relations
