Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday took the campaign against sexual and gender-based violence to Ikorodu, as part of efforts to tackle such ills in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, who is also the Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), was represented on the campaign by Mrs Olabisi Onigbanjo, a member of the committee.
“For us, our aim of championing this cause is because we are envisioning a society where sexual and gender-based violence is reduced to the barest minimum.
“A society where women and girls are free to go about their daily activities without fear or molestation,” she said.
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The governor’s wife said it was important for everyone in Lagos and Nigeria to embrace the essence of the campaign until until the community was free of the ills.
As part of the campaign, she paid a courtesy call on the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, at his palace in Ikorodu.
According to her, the issue of domestic violence is not acceptable, hence the initiative was designed to have absolutely zero tolerance for the crime in Lagos State.
She said that two symbolic signposts were being unveiled in Igbogbo and Ikorodu in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.
Sanwo-Olu said that in the past few months at the state level, there had been series of activities and advocacy against such acts.
She said that in June 2020, there was a male symbolic walk against rape where they received men of great conscience who decided to speak up against the menace in different parts of Lagos state, among other activities.
The governor’s wife commended all the stakeholders who had been working behind the scene to keep up the advocacy.
She also appreciated important dignitaries and men of conscience leading the cause.
Oba Shotobi, in his response, commended the governor’s wife and the team on their programme in Ikorodu.
“We will do everything within our power to ensure domestic violence becomes a thing of the past in Ikorodu and also support the COWSLO in their advocacy against this menace in totality,” he said.
Prince Tobi Benson, the Ikorodu coordinator, said the event was meant to sensitise residents of Ikorodu on the consequences of engaging in domestic violence, child abuse and the law on the acts.
Benson urged victims of domestic violence to come out and speak their minds to the appropriate agency, promising that justice would be done and identities would be protected from the public.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the traditional ruler and the visiting team took a walk holding placards with the inscriptions: ‘Say No to Domestic Violence’, ‘’I have taken a stand against sexual Violence’’ and ‘’Lagos say No to domestic violence’’ among others..(NAN)
