By Stephen Adeleye.
In her bid to curb violence against women in Kogi, the Governor’s wife, Hajia Sefinat Ododo, on Monday took her sensitisation campaign against Gender Based Violence (GBV) to Kogi Central Senatorial district, held at the Palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Alh. Dr Ahmed Tijani-Anaje in Okene, Okene Local Government Area.
It would be recalled that Kogi First Lady had on Saturday at Banquet Hall, Government House, Lokoja, held a sensitisation campaign program where she reaffirmed her commitment to sustain the fight to curb violence against women in the state.
In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani-Anaje, commended the first lady for embarking on such program to sensitising the people against gender based violence across the state.
The royal father admonished fathers to be responsible as family heads by living upto expectations, while urging women to serve as pillars of strength to their families.
The paramount ruler warned traditional rulers in Ebiraland to discourage unethical practices by rewarding good behavior and addressing negative actions in their communities.
The Ohinoyi emphasised that fostering harmony within households was key to building a progressive and thriving community.
He pointed out that even the holy books preached against violence against women, adding that there is a desk in his palace designated to take reports and address marital issues in the area.
He, therefore advised couples to manage their homes well and always rely on God for sustenance, stressing the importance of peace, love, respect, and discipline in family life.
Speaking at Ohinoyi’s palace in Okene, Mrs Ododo, said the program was to commemorate the 2024 16 Days Activism and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with the theme: “We Stand Against Gender Based Violence, Every Woman Deserves A Future”.
The governor’s wife admonished the youths to resist the negative influences of social media and focus on making the best choices that would secure their future.
She expressed her deep concern over the rising moral decadence in the digital space especially on social media, and urged the youths to shun internet fraud and other social vices.
Hajia Ododo particularly urged young women to avoid behaviors that tarnish the image of womanhood but to focus on positive actions and imbibe moral values at all times.
The Kogi First Lady further enjoined the women to be submissive to their husband and support them to succeed.
She advised the youths to acquire entrepreneurial skills, especially in areas like Information and Communication Technology, to achieve self-reliance and build sustainable futures.
Mrs Ododo also commended her husband, Gov. Ahmed Ododo, for providing women with opportunities to hold various leadership positions in his administration, saying the governor has demonstrated his commitment to women empowerment.
She, therefore implored parents to be proactive in shaping the lives and future of their children, and take advantage of the free education policies of Ododo’s administration to enroll their wards in school.
Mrs Ododo commended the Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, for her efforts towards improving the wellbeing of women and girls in the entire nation.
Earlier, the Director-General, Kogi State Pension Commission, Mrs Maryam Abedo, charged women to speak out against any form of molestation before or after marriage and report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
She encouraged parents to build close relationships with their children to foster trust and open communication.
Abedo stressed the importance of teaching sons to treat their spouses with respect and called on couples to practice mutual respect to create a healthy, godly society for raising future generations.
Other stakeholders at the event include: Local Government Chairmen, Religious and Traditional rulers, Community leaders, Health workers, Law makers, Commissioner and other Political ppointees.
The highlight of the occasion the playlet to sensitize the people and discourage them from discussing their marital issues with friends and relatives as most times they get bad advice.
