The First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to enforcing stricter penalties against perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV). This pledge was made during a two-day workshop organized by the Office of the Ekiti State First Lady and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
In a communique issued in Ado Ekiti, Dr. Oyebanji emphasized that offenders of GBV will face consequences that serve as deterrents for others. She described GBV as a human rights violation that endangers individual well-being and development.
“Perpetrators of GBV in Ekiti State will always face the consequence of their actions,” she stated. The First Lady encouraged workshop participants to utilize the insights gained to create actionable plans for addressing GBV within their communities.
Folorunso Olabode, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, praised the workshop for its role in raising awareness and developing strategies to combat GBV. He urged participants—including the state Attorney General, female elected officials, political appointees, and local government chairmen—to implement the knowledge gained during the workshop.
The communique outlined several resolutions made during the workshop, including:
- Establishing comprehensive and standardized procedures for reporting and documenting GBV cases.
- Creating a dedicated task force or response unit focused on victim safety.
- Ensuring continuous training on GBV issues and providing necessary resources for gender desk officers in local councils.
- Enforcing disciplinary actions against officials who neglect to respond to GBV cases.
- Replicating the First Lady’s Widows and Orphans Hope Project in local governments.
- Providing adequate compensation to GBV survivors and empowering law enforcement and the judiciary to ensure prompt attention to GBV cases, alongside establishing gender courts.
These measures aim to strengthen the state’s response to GBV and improve the safety and rights of affected individuals.
News Editor