NGO sensitizes Abia Community against GBV seeks end to such unwholesome practice

Ify Ash
Umuahia

Due to rising cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in Abia communities, Sanab
Development Foundation concerned about the ugly trend has taken campaign, awareness and sensitization to communities seeking for an end to such unwholesome practice.

Sanab Development Foundation on Tuesday 8th Oct. held stakeholders Engagement, Capacity Building and Training on Violence against
Women and Girls. The event held at Umudike Civic Centre and Ikwuano LGA of the state.

Speaking at Umudike, the first lady of Abia state, Mrs Precilia Otti said she is excited and happy with what the NGO is doing reiterated that it is in line with the vision of Governor Alex Otti to ensure the protection of women and girls in the state.

Mrs. Otti who was represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the ugly trend is brought to an end.

She disclosed that often she wonders the attraction to why a full-grown man will take delight to defiling a minor or raping a young girl and even and women.

Mrs Otti frown at the level at which evil is happening in our society as she recalled of a recent case in the state where a man attempted to pluck out the eye of his wife while she was asleep for suspected ritual purposes.

She disclosed that the trend is disturbing where young boys are using either their sisters or mothers for ritual for the sack of money.

“This awareness and sensitization program is in line with my vision, the state will no longer tolerate gender based violence, we want to bring it to zero level. Men beating their wives will have no place in our government as I also appeal to woman to respect their husbands while speaking with them reminding that men are the heads of their families”.the first lady disclosed.

Speaking also, the traditional ruler of Umudike Autonomous Community, and the Dike 1 of Umudike- Ukwu, HRM, Eze Ben Oriaku lauded the Foundation for bringing the sensitization to his community. He said Umudike is strategic to the awareness because of the presence of Michael Okpara university of Agriculture domiciled in the community.

He reiterated that violence against women and girls are in various dimensions, he regretted that some men sees women as weaker sex and to show the man they are, beat up their wives anytime they want. He said such is not acceptable in any sane society.

In her address, the project coordinator, Sanab Development Foundation, Amb. Dr. Delphine Chioma said the essence of their coming is to address an issue of critical importance, the rising cases of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the communities.

She noted that the gathering is not just a meeting but a united effort to bring about real change, to provide protection and to foster an environment where every woman and girl can live free from fear, violence and discrimination.

She added that all that are present in the occasion is a testament to a collective commitment in building safer communities in Ikwuano LGA and believe together can make a significant impact.

Dr Chioma disclosed that Sanab Development Foundation is the NGO hosting the event and member of the Partners for Peace (P4P) network in the Niger Delta. While adding that P4P is an initiative supported by the foundation for partnership initiatives in the Niger Delta and is dedicated to building peace and resolving conflicts across the region.

She appreciated the Foundation on driving change especially in issues related to peace building, human rights and gender based violence, urged participants to always speak out or contact them on the numbers to be shared when ever they witness or verify any conflict incident in their communities’.

Dr Chioma disclosed that the P4P Network works with local communities and stakeholders to identify conflicts and prevents their escalation by promoting non-violent solutions. She added that it’s an initiative that believes strongly in the power of dialogue, collaboration and local ownership of solutions and the reason their participation in today’s event was very critical.

“Today, let us all commit to building a future where our mothers, sisters daughters and wives live from fear of violence. Together let us create a safer more equitable Society. I am confident that with your support and active participation, we can develop strong, sustainable strategies to protect the rights and dignity of women and girls in our communities’. Dr Chioma stated.

Presenting a paper against violence of all forms in our society, the Director, Centre for Youths and Child Development, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka, said she had worked in the university for the past 25 years and observed that
more needed to be done in the ways some of our young girls dresses this days. She advised that everyone should earn to speak out when things are going wrong in the society.

She hinted that another area to look into is the use of social media where you get the good the bad and ugly. She admonished parents to be alive to their responsibilities towards their children. She added that some parents push their children into crime and prostitution and further compare their daughters with other girls who made their wealth in questionable means.

She regretted that in the universities this days is common to see girls and boys co- habiting because most of this boys were not taught how to cook, so they will rather prefer to live with their girl friends who will be cooking for them as she reminded of the implication of co-habiting.

She noted that there are verbal and psychological violence which can effect ones mental health.

“Let us train our girl child, empower our women, provide self space at times and, stop the pull her down syndrome prevalent among our women of today”. Prof. Onwuka disclosed.

Contributing, the officer in change of Gender Unit at Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mrs Chioma Godwin, said as some one in charge of gender unit, they handle cases of abuses against women and girls. She warmed randy men against continuous violation of innocent girls stressing that the command takes the issues of gender based violence seriously.

She also disclosed that intimate partner violence also occurs in homes, women denied rights because they are women. She reiterated that the gender unit settles issues concerning families.

She however commended the traditional ruler of Umudike, Eze Ben Oriaku for handling a case of abuse they brought before him in his palace as she added that the gender unit observed that Ikwuano LGA have high cases of gender based Violence.

Lending her voice, the 1st Vice President, National Council for Women Society, lady Chinyere Ibe said violence against women is everywhere and most often starts from homes.

She said violence against girls are everywhere in the society, she tasked parents to be in charge of their homes and never to take anything for granted regretted that at times violence takes place under the roof of parents without them knowing.

Speaking, the representative of Partners for Peace, (P4P) Mrs Pamela Adiele lauded the sensitization awareness adding that it will go a long way to sharping the attitude of women towards their girl child. She blamed some women for their inability to take good care of their children.

She recalled of a case where a woman in the guise that she wanted to help a young girl, took her from her parent from the village to the city and ended up keeping her in a brothel for men to use and make money for her.

The highlight of the occasion was the distribution of papers with phone numbers to participants on how to send reports using the SMS early warning IPDU in case of occurrence of violence in their communities and distribution of aprons boldly written, “say no to gender-based violence”. to women traders in Oboro market, Ikwuano LGA after sensitizing them.
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Middle, traditional ruler of Umudike Eze Ben Oriaku, the Commissioner for Women Affairs Dr Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, the coordinator of the event Dr Delphine Chioma, among others