By Precious Oham
As part of measures to end Gender Based Violence in Ekiti State, a Non Governmental Organization, the Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, has organized a capacity building workshop for leaders of market women (Iyaloja) and female traditional leaders (Iyalode) in the state.
Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, is an organisation that promotes social and gender justice for women and girls in the country.
At the programme held in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, in collaboration with the Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion with support from Ford Foundation, the participants were educated on the need to speak up and report any violence against them to appropriate authorities.
In a remark, the Founding Director, WARDC, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said there is need for women to resist all violence against them and the girl child.
She said: “The goal of this project is to reduce the occurence of violence against women and girls in southwest Nigeria and enhance engagement, capacity and accountability of community leaders and gatekeepers to promote women’s agency.
“We called the Iyalode and Iyaloja in Ekiti State to discuss the burning issues of sexual and gender-based violence and how the association/council can address this vices in our communities.”
On their part, the Ekiti State government has reiterated that perpetrators of this dastardly acts will be prosecuted in line with the relevant laws against gender-based violence.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mrs Sola Adeluyi, represented by the Director Women Affairs in the Ministry, Mrs Tayo Olatilu, said: “Ekiti State government will not relent on its decision to punish and shame perpetrators of gender-based violence against girls and women.”
Also, the Executive Director of Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion, Rita Ilevbare, noted that the women leaders are expected to extend the campaign to their members at the grassroots.
“To win the war against gender based violence we need to continue to build capacity of our people at the grassroots.
“To understand what is gender based violence and laws that prohibits it. We want to breach the gap between ignorance and knowledge of the law for effective promotion of gender justice in Ekiti State.”