Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, called upon tertiary students and civil society organisations (CSOs) to engage actively in women and girls’ empowerment and emancipation, especially in curbing gender-based violence (GBV) across Lagos State.
Speaking at the Gender and Safe Spaces Summit during the 16 Days of Activism themed ‘Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’, Dada highlighted the significance of this annual celebration initiated by the United Nations.
Dada emphasised the need for heightened awareness and advocacy efforts, urging civil societies to disseminate knowledge for combating violence against women and girls. She underlined Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to gender equality, with the administration’s focus on a national strategy to advance women’s and girls’ rights.
The Commissioner revealed, “We’ve established toll-free 767 emergency lines and domestic desks in 57 local government and local council development areas to enhance SGBV reporting.” Additionally, she mentioned forthcoming government-built rehabilitation homes to equip survivors with skills for financial sustainability.
Furthermore, Dada highlighted the Ministry’s continuous educational programmes targeting women’s rights and stakeholder engagement to mitigate societal vices. She outlined the state government’s integrated interventions, including health services, to prevent and address SGBV, emphasising collaborations with UN agencies and women-focused NGOs.
Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, stressed the prevalence of SGBV among women and girls, advocating for conducive learning environments in tertiary institutions to bolster their performance.
She lauded the efforts of UN Women and the Ministry in SGBV sensitisation, urging accelerated CSO engagement in the fight against SGBV in Lagos communities.
The event featured the conferment of the ‘ICON of Gender Safety for Nigeria and West Africa’ award to Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and the ‘Credence in Leadership Award’ to Mr. Lansana Wonnen, UN Women Deputy Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS.
