From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State government has pledged to sustain collaboration with local and international non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and other partners in the fight against Gender Based Violence, GBV.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ann Itodo said this during a one-day dialogue with community leaders, organised by Concerned Women International Development Initiative, CWIDI, in Makurdi.
Itodo, who was represented by the Acting Director of Women Affairs in the ministry, Mrs Magdalene Andor, recalled that in commemorating this year’s International Women’s Day, the ministry and its staff moved round the streets of Makurdi and major markets to sensitise the people on the need to stop GBV, in line with this year’s theme, ‘Accelerating Action to End All Forms of GBV.’
She said the ministry had in the past interfaced with owners of orphanage homes, educating them on how to handle such cases, synergise with civil society organisations, visited IDP camps to carry out awareness on how to handle and improve GBV cases, as well as carried out sensitisation through radio programmes and personal interaction with groups to create more awareness.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry is currently working with stakeholders to synergise and educate citizens through advocacy to ensure equity in all aspects of women’s lives.
Itodo commended CWIDI for doing a great job in the state, acknowledging that organising a programme that involves traditional rulers who are not just the custodians of culture, but also give direction to their subjects and their wives, is a right step in the right direction, expressing optimism that with the involvement of the monarchs, success in the fight against GBV would be achieved by 80 percent.
Also speaking, the State Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Bitrus Larai, represented by DSC Benedict Sunday, assured that in addition to stepping up synergy with other security agencies and organisations, the command would intensify sensitisation for people to know the dangers associated with GBV.
On her part, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Blessing Ityohuun, and the Assistant Director from the Ministry of Justice, Sunday Sabe, emphasised the need for synergy among organisations, describing the dialogue as apt.
FIDA particularly identified finance and funding as a major challenge in the fight against GBV and other cases, appealing to international partners to support CWIDI with funds to help local organisations carry out awareness.
It assuring that FIDA’s doors would always remain open to listen to complaints of victims who suffer gender-based violence and other related issues.
In her opening remarks, Senior Programme Officer of CWIDI, Mrs Becky Gbihi said the dialogue was put together to amplify the organisation’s responsibility, which is to ensure that no woman suffers injustice in the hands of their male counterparts, stressing that the aim of the dialogue is to proffer solutions to cases of GBV.
