Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the Wife of Ekiti State’s Governor has acknowledged the efforts of the Kayode Fayemi-led administration in Ekiti State in ensuring successful implementation of Gender-Based Violence prohibition law in the State.
The Wife of the Governor, in a keynote address delivered at the grand finale of the 2018 edition of activism against gender-based violence with the theme “Orange the world”, charged the people of the State to be more pro-active on issues regarding women and the female child.
While appreciating the large attendance of the participants, Erelu Fayemi stated that the Prohibition law would be a major tool that would be used to enhance zero tolerance for gender-based violence across the State.
She assured that Ekiti State Government would work with all security agencies to ensure that cases of GBV were treated with dispatch and without fear or favour.
The governor’s wife charged all heads of all Ministries and inter-Ministerial, Departments in the State to ensure that all cases of GBV were reported promptly at appropriate quarters.
The Acting Head of Service in Ekiti State, who is also the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Social
Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Peju Babafemi, while commending the activities of government and the planners of the event equally advised people to always make timely report of gender-based violence at appropriate quarters whenever there was any case of GBV among women and the girl child.
Also speaking at the Forum, a representative of the judicial system, Justice Toyin Abodunde who was also a key Speaker at the event, educated the participants on various chapters of the GBV law and stiff penalties attached to it when violated.
She mentioned lack of substantial evidence as one of the factors working against proper handling of rape cases by law enforcement agencies and urged everyone to take cognizance of this important element.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Foluke Adeyemo, in her welcome address acknowledged the concern of the current administration in the State under the leadership of Dr. Kayode
Fayemi and the relentless efforts of his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi whom the Permanent Secretary described as a source of inspiration towards the planning and execution of a very successful 16-day programme.
Mrs Adeyemo said the human rights day was designed to galvanize actions that would end several domestic, sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls throughout the world.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that the Forum was to mobilize concerned stakeholders in the struggle such as government partners, Civil Societies, Schools at all levels, private sectors, sports associations and all individuals that stand in solidarity with survivors, advocates and women’s human rights defenders working conscientiously to both prevent and end violence against women and girls.
Other speakers at the occasion included Barrister Rita Ilevbare, Nelson Akeredolu and the representative of the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State command, who reiterated that law enforcement agencies would ensure they co-operative and work together with Ekiti State Government on the matter.
They, however, charged the general public to report any case bordering on GBV for prompt action to be taken by the command.
Packaged by Omotoyosi Jesuleye
