PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT: ONDO GOVERNMENT GOES MOBILE
The Ondo State Government has signed a Partnership Agreement with Gender Mobile Initiative in furtherance of its effort at preventing Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the Sunshine state.
Gender mobile Initiative is a Non-Governmental organization with credible history in complementing the policy and programmes of Government towards advancing Gender Equality and combating Gender-Based Violence particularly in environment of learning.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Hon. Mrs Olamide Falana while receiving Delegates of Gender Mobile alongside Stakelders in the State in her office affirmed that the signing of the agreement is to promote active collaboration between Ondo State and Civil Societies as well as partners across board to reduce cases of Gender related violence.
She stressed that the move was premised on the rapid increase in cases of Gender related issues, of which young people especially in the citadel of learning are more vulnerable.
Hon Falana further commended the effort of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu(SAN) in ensuring the State is rid of crime in any form while creating enabling a conducive environment to work towards prevention of GBV in the state.
The Governor’s aide reiterated the commitment of the Gender office in driving the war against GBV in the State.
‘Following this, we shall move round our higher institutions across the State to ensure strict compliance to the project which will promote GBV response in the State’
In her remark , Dr Wunmi Ilawole, Special Adviser on Education who appreciated Gender Mobile for taking interest in Ondo State noted that the wave of crime in higher Institutions of learning has become worrisome hence describing the initiative of Gender Mobile as a welcome development.
Assuring the unflinching support of her office to all Gender Programmes in Ondo State, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Adebunmi Osadaun pointed that the society is getting unsafe for the Girl child.
In her address, The Executive Director of Gender Mobile Initiative, Barr. Omowunmi Ogunrotimi who acknowledged the stride of the Office of Gender in Ondo state for midwiving the Programme in the state hinted that Gender Mobile had worked in over 100 institutions of higher learning to address sexual harrasment by adopting a tripartite approach of policy design to foster access to justice and generate data for programming response.
‘Last year April, we launched a mobile App tagged Campus Pal App strictly for Campus Community. The App supports Campus Community to able to report cases of Sexual assaults and track the cases. It has in it, climate survey that Institutions can use periodically access if their mechanisms are working. Most importantly, the mobile app has in irt, a sexual assault prevention education module where students can access information on how to prevent sexual hrrasment and the interplay of power and privilege’
Ogunrotimi applauded the Goverment of Ondo State for exercising and demonstrating the political will to rid the state of Gender related violence.
In his comment in response to Gender Based issues in higher Institutions, the Director of Corporate Communication, FUTA and Provost, Ondo State School of Health Technology, Akure. Adebanjo Adegbenro and Dr Olawoye respectively registered the Zero Tolerance of both school to GBV while stressing that more should be done in the home front to curb the menace.
Also present at the Programme are representatives of Nigeria Police Force. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, International Federation of Women Lawyers, OSAA-GBV and others
Adeola Adeniyi
Press Officer
SA to Gov on Gender.
GBV: AMOTEKUN SET TO CLAMP DOWN ON PERPETRATORS IN ONDO STATE
The Ondo state Command of Western Nigeria Security Network(WNSN) codenamed Operation Amotekun has declared its support to stem Gender Based Violence in the State by assisting in arresting and presecuting perpetrators of such cases.
This was disclosed by the Corps Commander who doubles as the Senior Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye at a meeting with the Management of Ondo State Agency Against Gender Based Violence (OSAA-GBV)
OSAA-GBV has taken its familiarization drive to the Ondo Command office of Amotekun in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
In her opening remark, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Barr. Joel Ogundadegbe commended the effort of the Command in curbing crimes in the state while requesting a smooth collaboration and support of the special based Command in arresting and prosecution of perpetrators of Gender related violence so as not to have an easy ride in Ondo State.
She further noted that the Governor of the State , Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) on the 14th of July 2021, signed into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA) and consequently inaugurated the OSAA-GBV with a vision towards achieving a GBV- free State.
The Amotekun Commander who described the establishment of OSAA- GBV as a timely intervention added that the objective of the Agency falls under the purview of his office to guarantee safety of lives and property.
‘i will give directive to my coordinators in the 18 LGA’s that once they have request for arrest or enforcement in cases of Gender related violence, they should immediately heed the call’
Akogun Adeleye however appealed that a sustainable medium be employed to educate the public that it takes two to tangle, urging couples to embrace genuine love as a panacea to GBV.
He also presented the challenge of accommodating teenagers involved in crimes among criminals.
Responding the Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Hon Mrs Olamide Falana who applauded the feat the Corps had recorded in Security Matters in the State, stated that the Agency will do all within its reach to provide succour to victims of GBV in the State.
‘In the next few months hopefully, we should have a shelter under OSAA-GBV, its part of the responsibilities the law establishing the Agency has set it to do. Shelter where we can actually have a safe keep for some time, like a transit home for teengers who are victims, where they can also learn some skills to be useful to themselves’
The farmiliarization team from OSAA-GBV also had in company the Director, Finance and Administration, Abraham Akomolafe, Director Programmes, Raheem Ogunmola and other management team.
Adeola Adeniyi
Press Officer
SA To Governor on Gender
