Vice President’s Wife Advocates Zero-Tolerance For Gender-Based Violence

Dolapo Osinbajo, Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has called for a collective advocacy and action towards zero tolerance for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful practices.

Osinbajo made the call while unveiling the Landscape Analysis report on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Harmful Traditional Practices and Obstetrics Fistula at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

The report was presented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with Nigeria, Canada and development partners.

Osinbajo, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said available statistics indicated that GBV was a global pandemic that affected many women in their lifetime.

She said that the statistics meant that 35 per cent of women worldwide had experienced either physical or sexual violence involving a known or unknown person.

The Wife of the Vice President said that concerted efforts were needed to address the ugly trend and save the girl child.

Osinbajo said that the importance of the key report by UNFPA could not  be over emphasised.

She said the report would help to guide interventions, provoke effective programmes, improve ongoing programs to curb and eventually wipe out GBV and harmful practices in the communities.

Presenting an overview of the report, Prof. Olabisi Aina, Report Consultant, recommended the empowering of women and girls through promoting and supporting gender education.

On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman, National Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, thanked Osinbajo for standing  firm on the programme.

He also commended her for taking three states as the pilot project in the report.

Abubakar said that the event was of great significance in the lives of women and girls.

On her part, the UNFPA Resident in Nigeria, Ulla Mueller, commended Nigeria for the programmes and policies initiated to tackle gender-based violence and harmful practices in the country.

She called on Federal Government to prioritise ending sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

The event attracted wives of Oyo, Sokoto and Bauchi states’ governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, development partners and representatives of the UN stakeholders.