Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, expressed the commitment of his administration to supporting advocacy against gender-based violence.
The governor gave this indication while receiving the representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, led by his wife, Engr. Tamunominini Makinde, who paid a courtesy visit to his office.
He said that his administration would provide political leadership, budgetary support, and executive backing for laws aimed at preventing gender-based violence.
Speaking during the visit themed “𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 s𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 g𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞,” Governor Makinde gave the assurance that his administration would work with the Oyo State House of Assembly to ensure that adequate budgetary allocations are made for GBV prevention and response mechanisms.
The governor appreciated the representatives of the Governors’ Spouses Forum and the Ford Foundation on the advocacy visit, noting that he had asked the government to do a bit of work to ensure that the state government changed the norms on the issue of sexual and gender-based violence.
He said: “I believe strongly in preventing sexual and gender-based violence. For millions of young girls and women out there in our state, I give the assurance that, as an administration, we do have the political will to support the aspiration of the Nigerian Government and the Ford Foundation on the prevention of gender-based violence.
“We have the will, and as I said, Oyo State will provide that political leadership that you are looking for.”
He added, “Let me also say that whatever bill passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly in support of the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in Oyo State, I will sign it.
“So you can take for granted the executive backing for appropriate laws passed towards ensuring that the objective of this advocacy is attained.”
Earlier in her speech, wife of the Oyo State Governor and Vice Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, Mrs Makinde, called for commitment to preventing gender-based violence in the state.
She emphasised that GBV is not only a social problem but also a development challenge, governance issue, and a silent economic drain, urging the state government to prioritise GBV prevention and provide adequate funding for prevention and response mechanisms.
Mrs Makinde sought for support in three key areas including “political leadership that prioritises GBV prevention, sustained budgetary allocation for prevention and response mechanisms, and executive backing for the implementation of existing laws, particularly the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child’s Rights Law.”
She noted that the meeting was part of an advocacy initiative by the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum in partnership with the Ford Foundation, to strengthen legislative ownership of GBV prevention in Oyo State.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Musibau Babatunde; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni; Members of the House of Assembly; Commissioners and other government functionaries.
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