Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other stakeholders have called on Nigerians to join hands in the fight against Gender Base Violence (GBV) to promote equality in the society.

The Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call on Thursday at a Town hall meeting in Lokoja, organised by the Agency as part of activities to mark the “16 Days Activism Against Gender Base Violence (GBV).

Represented by the Acting State Director of NOA, Kogi Directorate Patrick Edogbanya, Issa-Onilu, said the GBV has become a rising menace affecting the system, and required a multi-faceted approach involving everyone in the society.

He pointed out that effort should be geared toward eliminating any form of violence against women and children.

According to him, when a woman is being violated, the society remain unstable, and NOA will continue to do its best to end GBV through the collaboration of traditional rulers, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders.

“So, this town hall meeting by NOA is going to be a continuous one as well as the advocacy visits to individuals, communities, organizations and government agencies geared towards addressing gender based violence in Nigeria,” he said.

In his remarks, the Kogi State Police Commissioner, CP Betrand Onoha, said the fight against GBV should be a collective fight as it affects the entire society.

He lamented that violence against children or minors that were taboo in the olden days has become a norm these days.

Onuoha, who was represented the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Williams Aya, stressed the need for proactive approach to critically addressed the menace of gender based violence.

He, however urged NOA to put more effort in taking the sensitization to various level of education in order to imbibe value re-orientation in the minds of the younger ones in the society.

“The traditional rulers and religious leaders have significant roles to play in ensuring that the causes of GBV are nip in the bud by exposing perpetrators of violence against women and children.

“There is need also for us to go back to value reorientation from the grassroots to teach and inculcate right values into children” he advised.

In her lecture, titled “Harmful Beliefs That Perpetrate Violence on Women and Children”, Barr. Grace Agunsoye from Challenge parenthood Initiative (CPI), appealed to the government to allow laws concerning women and children violations to take its course by prosecuting offenders to serve as deterrent to others.

Stakeholders at the event include: Religious and Traditional leaders, CSOs, NGOs, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Youths and Women groups, PDCRC, FIDA, NHRC, Ministries of Women Affairs, Health, Security Agencies, among others.

In their separate comments, the stakeholders stressed that addressing gender-based violence (GBV) required a multi-faceted approach that involves individuals, communities, organizations and governments.

They advocated for collective efforts to promote gender equality by encouraging equal rights, opportunities, and representation for women and girls, and address societal norms, attitudes, and behaviors that perpetuate GBV.

They also emphasised the need to organise awareness campaigns, events, and activities to educate communities about GBV.