The first lady of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has advocated the need to educate and sensitize young boys and men who according to her are the perpetrators of violent acts and rape against women. She specifically requested men to be protectors instead of being perpetrators.
She made this statement during a peaceful walk and awareness to the Executive and the Legislative arms of the governments in the State to solicit support for action against gender based violence and rape in the state.
She decried the gruesome rape and killings of Tina Ezekwe, Uwavera Omozua, Barakat Bello and Jennifer that occurred recently among others, stating that such crimes had been on the rise.
Mrs. Abiodun who demanded drastic and urgent steps to nip the development in the bud, emphasized her readiness and commitment to ensuring that survivors of the acts were not stigmatized or discriminated against in the society acknowledged the role of men in the struggle.
“You are our fathers, our brothers and sons. Yet most of the violent sexual crimes committed against women are being perpetrated by boys and men. We need to educate our young boys and encourage them to be protectors and not perpetrators”
In his response, the Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun commended and thanked the First Lady and her team on the initiative and for being a voice to women folk who according to him formed about 50% of the world population.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that cases which bordered on women and girl child violence were expedited to bring the offenders to book assuring that men in the Executive would lend their voices to the campaign and give women and girl child equal opportunities as well as empower them economically.
The Speaker of the Ogun state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kunle Oluomo commended the First Lady and her team for their concern for the women folk and promised on behalf of the Legislature to give accelerated hearing and passage to any bill that affect women and children in the state.
About Author
