Different groups — including young people, religious and traditional leaders, police officers, civil society groups, and NGOs — recently gathered in Abeokuta to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and break the silence around it.
The meeting was hosted by the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) at the National Union of Teachers (NUT) hall to curb SGBV.
With the theme “Partnership for Better Protection of Women and Girls Against Violence in Ogun State,” the event featured panel discussions, live radio calls, and suggestions from those present on how to protect women and girls and ensure justice.
Oluwafunmilayo Abdullahi, in her opening speech, urged community leaders to stop hiding abuse cases and instead help survivors speak up and get legal help.
Dr. Salami Fatai, from the Ogun State Council for Islamic Affairs, encouraged Muslim leaders to create safe spaces where people can open up and get guidance. He also promised training for women and religious leaders on how to handle these issues better.
Apostle Tola Adenekan from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Abeokuta warned people to stop defending abusers and instead report them to the authorities. He said Christianity supports love and peace, not staying in harmful marriages.
Educator Adesina Adefolaran stressed the need to protect girl children and warned against letting them hawk goods, which makes them more vulnerable. He also called on neighbours to report abuse, especially against house helpers.
He highlighted the need to break the silence around abuse and reject the idea that women should stay in violent marriages “for the sake of the children.” This is done to curb SGBV.
Key Events At The Anti-SGBV Meeting
Some key agreements made at the event included:
- Religious leaders must stop covering for abusers and report them to the police.
- Raise awareness about government help, such as helplines and agencies.
- Protect vulnerable groups like people with disabilities and children from poor families.
- Organise community talks and training and report progress to CEWHIN.
- Teach children about sex and gender equality using clear and age-appropriate language.
- Support boys to understand the importance of respecting girls.
- Provide financial support to children so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Stakeholders also agreed to:
- Teach children good values to help them avoid harmful behaviour.
- Challenge harmful cultural and religious ideas that promote staying in abusive marriages.
- Support divorce and legal action as ways to address abusive situations.
- Encourage women to be financially independent so they don’t rely completely on their husbands.
They concluded: “Let’s speak up when we see abuse and help women become financially self-reliant.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the current allocation to agriculture in Bauchi’s 2025 budget is inadequate. To support women farmers and ensure food security, the budget must be restructured to address these critical areas.
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