The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to safeguard the welfare of children and teenagers and strengthen the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in the state.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Opeyemi Afolashade, stated this during an advocacy visit by the Welfare for Children and Teenagers Initiative (WECTIN) to her office in Ilorin.
Afolashade commended WECTIN for its efforts and reiterated the state government’s readiness to partner with non-governmental organisations to combat GBV across communities in Kwara State.
She emphasised the importance of continuous training and sensitisation of key community gatekeepers, including traditional rulers, market women, youths, religious leaders, women and children, on the dangers and consequences of GBV.
According to her, sustained awareness campaigns would help enlighten the public, reduce stigma and ultimately curb the menace of violence in communities and the state at large.
The commissioner further urged non-governmental organisations to carry the Ministry of Women Affairs along in all their activities to ensure credibility, strengthen collaboration and promote a unified approach towards eradicating all forms of violence in the state.
Earlier, the Executive Director of WECTIN, Mr Ojo Stephen, said the organisation plans to organise training sessions themed “Breaking the Silence” for stakeholders in Akanbi Ward of Ilorin South Local Government Area, covering ten communities.
He explained that the training would focus on educating participants on how to identify signs of GBV and the appropriate channels for reporting such cases in the state.
Ali Muhammad Rabiu
