Ogun State Government has expressed concerns over the increase in cases of rape and other gender-based violence in the country.
The government explained that statistics of rape and other gender-based violence cases in Nigeria indicated that, one out of ten girls is either abused or be a survivor of gender-based violence.
The government stated that it would continue to campaign against rape and other gender-based violence until perpetrators are brought to book.
The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, and his counterpart in the ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, at a press briefing to herald a pageant to campaign against rape and other gender-based violence
Taiwo in his remarks said the government has set a machinery in motion to mobilize forces to all local government areas in the state to campaign against rape and other gender-based violence.
Taiwo explained that the government had planned to organise a pageant where young girls would converge and speak against rape and other gender-based violence.
The commissioner further added that the pageant was a collaboration project between the government and 17 Goals Agenda for Empowerment Foundation and Hearken Consistency Media and Entertainment Limited.
The commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Olaotan Olusegun called on private sector in the state to support the pageant.
He said “this pageant focuses on empowering our young women and addressing gender violence and rape in our society.
“It is unique and not the usual pageant where we see our young girls walk on stage in manners not in constant with our culture.
“This pageant will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the good people of Ogun State and promote her investment opportunities. It offers early exposure of our youths to Ambassadorial positions and responsibilities.
“The proposal had specific relevance to the needs of our teeming youths especially at the grassroots cutting across the 20 local government areas of Ogun State and not leaving anyone behind”.
Afuape who was represented by the Director of Empowerment Affairs in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Bonuola Kazeem assured that the pageant would help victims of gender-based violence to overcome emotional trauma.
He said ” a lot of our girls have been abused and molested. A culture of silence and resilience is predominant in our society. The cancawarm has eaten deep that everybody is assumed to be a perpetrator. One in ten girls or women would have one time or another been abused or be a survivor of gender-based violence.
“With this year’s theme, gender-based violence and rape against women in our society, I believed is one of the ways by which the culture of silence can be broken.
“With this competition, I believe it will be the biggest ever competition because I am giving the word of the honourable commissioner, we are going to all the 20 local governments to encourage our young women within reproductive age and rise to come out and participate in this competition”.
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