Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) was among other civil society organisations invited to attend the End of Project Workshop organized by the Edo State Gender Based Violence Management Committee (GBMC), on Tuesday June 14th, 2022, at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, Edo State.
Also in attendance were Top Government Officials, The Executive Governor of Edo State – His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Her Excellency, the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, who is the Chairperson of the GBMC, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Religious Leaders; including the Chief Imam, Benin Central Mosque, Edo State – Alhaji Abdufatah Enabulele and the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) – Bishop Oyenude Kure, Traditional Rulers, and Civil Society Organizations.
In her welcome address, The First Lady of Edo State, Her Excellency, (Mrs.) Betsy Bene Obaseki, who is the Chairperson Edo State GBV Management Committee welcomed all attendees and as assured every one of her efforts to end GBV in Edo State. According to the First Lady, the fight against gender-based violence is a fight to save lives as the actions of perpetrators of GBV, destroy destinies of victims. She encouraged victims of GBV to speak up and not be ashamed or afraid. She also sternly warned accomplices of perpetrators of GBV of the VAP Law, that they will be joined in the case with the accused.
In his Address, to declare the workshop open, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki reiterated his commitment to the fight against gender-based violence in the state. He enlightened the participants about the establishment of the Vivian Centre where free legal, health and counselling services are rendered to victims. According to him, Edo has made adequate budgetary provision to sustain the fight, we are putting in place the institutional arrangement with buildings and facilities to ensure we succeed in this fight. He appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to use his office to ensure that investigations are concluded and perpetrators of Miss Uwaila Omozuwa’s death are prosecuted. In his concluding statements, he appreciated the contributions and supports by the West African Office of the Ford Foundation, Professor Friday Okonofua and the Nigerian Academy of Science, for the support accorded Her Excellency, The First Lady of Edo State to accomplish her giant strides in the fight against Gender Based Violence in Edo State.
Resource Persons took turns to refresh the minds of participants about the overview of programmes and activities discussed during training. Feedback, lessons learnt and experiences were shared, the way forward to ensuring continuity of all programmes and activities were practically discussed. Afterwards, a film produced on the GBV Project, was aired, it comprised of themes such as the need for Parental Guidance, Proper home training, Peer group influence, Resilience, Justice, and the roles of the Police, the Judiciary, Agencies, Centres or NGOs and other Government Parastatals dedicated to the course of GBV victims like the Vivian Centre. It is indeed a must-watch for people of all strata’s.
The climax of the workshop was the formal launch and presentation of the GBV Training Manual and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of GBV Prevention and Response to all Attendees, and the donation of operational vehicles to the Gender Based Violence Management Committee (GBMC).
