Kwara 1st Lady reiterates commitment to eliminate gender violence
By Agency Report
First Lady, Kwara State, Mrs. Olufolake AbdulRazaq
The Kwara First Lady, Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has reiterated her determination to work with relevant agencies to rid the society of rape and sexual violence.
Mrs AbdulRazaq, who is also the Founder of Ajike People’s Support Centre, said her office and the centre were engaging relevant stakeholders through sensitisation and advocacies to rid the state of the menace.
AbdulRazaq said this while speaking at a sensitisation walk against rape and sexual violence in Ilorin on Wednesday.
The walk was part of activities commemorating the 2020 International Day for Elimination of all forms of rape and sexual violence held annually on June 19.
The first lady said that victims of rape were human beings, adding that rape is evil and its perpetrators must not go unpunished.
“Let us support community efforts to stop the barbaric and criminal activities of rapists,” she urged.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the walk and sensitisation exercise was in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
The State Director of the NOA, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi, said that the rising cases of sex and gender based violence in the nation has become worrisome.
He added that the agency was committed to sensitising the public on the social ill of rape and sexual violence.
“We will be sensitising the citizens with this walk. It is saddening that as reported by the Nigerian Police, that between January and now, there has been not less than 717 rape cases in our nation and these are the ones that get reported to the police.
“We want to call on all stakeholders, our women, our children, our fathers to scale up our enlightenment, scale up our sexual education, scale up our sensitisation at our homes, our offices and our markets.
“Unfortunately schools are not open now, that is another area where we need to do more of sensitisation and enlightenment.
“But we are provided with this privilege today in Kwara to mark the 2020 International Day for Elimination of Rape and Sexual Violence.
“So, while we maintain social distancing and the use of nose masks, we are going to walk in advocacy for the elimination of rape and sexual violence,” he said.
The state Commissioner for Social Development, Mrs Abosede Aremu, said that the government was not happy with the situation of rape and sexual violence in the nation as it was becoming rampant.
“The office of the First Lady as well as the ministry of social development cannot fight this evil alone.
“We want all civil societies, NGOs and stakeholders to join hands with us in making sure that rape and sexual violence is eliminated in our society.
“It is not only sexual violence that is rampant these days, we have human trafficking, child abuse all of which must be eliminated.
“And we can achieve this only if the necessary laws are implemented, it is not that there are no laws, but they must be implemented accordingly, so that the perpetrators of these evils will be brought to justice,” she said.
NAN reports that the walk started from the Kwara Banquet Hall to Challenge bus station through the Post Office and Central Bank of Ngeria and through Offa Road.
Present at the walk were the Commissioners for Sports, Social Development, Tertiary Education, Finance and Special Duties.
Joining in the walk were the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Rotimi Adelesi who represented the Commissioner of Police, Assistant Corps Commander Nasiru Mohammed, who represented Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in Kwara.
NAN also reports that officers of the NSCDC, FRSC, EFCC, Fire Service, NAWOJ, FIDA and FOMWAN were also represented at the walk. (NAN)
