The Ekiti State Government has announced the inclusion of Person With Disabilities into the GBV management committee, marking a new chapter toward access to justice for women and girls in the state.
This was made known by the Ekiti State Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Peju Babafemi, during a one-day stakeholders’ interactive meeting on the theme “Inclusive and Accessible Drive of Persons with Disabilities in the 21st Century.”
The meeting was organized by the Ekiti State Government under the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion (SESI) in collaboration with the World Bank-funded AGILE Project, held at Lady Jibowu Hall, Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.
While giving her keynote address, Hon. Babafemi emphasized the need to ensure an inclusive and accessible environment for persons with disabilities, especially women and girls with disabilities, due to various challenges that had subjected them to various discriminations and stigma, including gender-based violence.
In her words, “The Ekiti State GBV Management Committee, under the leadership of the First Lady (wife of the Governor), has directed that persons with disabilities (PWDs) be co-opted into the GBV Management Committee as members and to be unveiled in the next committee meeting, so as to ensure proper inclusion and representation.”
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI Nigeria) applauded the state government for being disability-friendly and sensitive.
He appreciated the wife of the governor, who doubled as the Chairperson of the committee, for prioritizing the welfare, safety, and well-being of persons with disabilities in the state.
He stated further that this achievement confirmed the efforts of DINABI in the last one year on advocacy for inclusion into the GBVMC.
It would be recalled that a series of efforts were made on awareness creation, capacity building, and advocacies while also interfacing with key stakeholders in Ekiti State during the implementation of a Disability Right Fund (DRF)-funded project by DINABI Nigeria throughout last year, focused on the advancement of the rights of women and girls with disabilities to freedom from gender-based violence (GBV) in the state.
While reacting, the State JONAPWD Secretary, Mr. Femi Oni, appreciated the wife of the governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Funmilayo Adetoun Agboola, for their support toward achieving this great feat.