Kwara: Commissioner Describes Gender-Based Violence as Criminal

Violence against women has been described as a criminal act which should be discouraged to promote fairness and equality among citizens in the State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, made this known at a One Day Stakeholder’s Engagement on Advocacy and Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Kwara State, held at the Noktel Suites, Ilorin.

The Commissioner stated that Kwara State Government has always been at the forefront of advocating and preventing violence against women and girls.

According to her, “the menace of gender based violence is rampant and should be discouraged. However, in Kwara, women are well-recognized and endowed with cabinet positions for policy making.Kudos to His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON,” she said.

The Commissioner who encouraged philanthropists to embrace empowerment initiatives for women and girls as a crucial tool for protecting them, charged all Stakeholders and civil society organizations to stand against the prevention of gender based violence.

On her part, the Commissioner for Communication, Mrs. Bola Olukoju, charged all stakeholders to speak out against any act of violence against women to stop the menace in society.

The Chairman House Committee on Health and Environment, Hon. Razak Owolabi while speaking, affirmed the commitment of the Kwara State House of Assembly to support advocacy on the prevention of violence against women and urged parents to be more mindful of their children’s safety, making sure to take adequate care of their needs.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Abosede Buraimoh, encouraged non-governmental organizations to assist the government in sensitizing communities at the grassroots to end violence against women in the society.

She highlighted many programs of the State Government on the eradication of violence against women and thanked the “Ford Foundation” and “Stand to End Rape Initiative” for partnering with Kwara State on the sensitization of stakeholders.

Also speaking at the venue, Hon. Arinola Lawal, the Member representing Ilorin East at the Kwara State House of Assembly, thanked the organizers of the stakeholders’ meeting for leading the path to achieving the goodwill of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in the protection of the rights of women in the society.

She assured the stakeholders of the unflinching support of the Kwara State House of Assembly in efforts at the prevention of violence against women and girls in the society.

Dignitaries at the meeting included Honourable members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Kwara State Commissioners, representatives of the Commissioner of Police, the Special Adviser on Youths, Executive Secretaries, the Director General of Ajike People’s Support and Civil Society Organizations, among others.