Gender Based Violence: Akwa Ibom first lady partners donor agencies
The wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel has solicited more funds for the empowerment of the victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Mrs. Emmanuel, who has been passionate in the campaign against domestic violence, rape, and other sexual vices, made the call on Wednesday, 16 February 2022 at the government lodge during a courtesy call on her by the Norwegian Government and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) team.
She said that more funding will enable the state give victims of gender-based violence a better life after going through such traumatic and psychological abuse.
“As I’m speaking, some of the victims of GBV don’t have anyone to fend for them, while some have been rejected by their families and are just roaming around the streets.
“I am soliciting for more funds in the area of empowerment to assist them in getting a better life and as such would be able to stand on their own while we monitor from time to time,” she said.
She explained that in the case where a minor is been defiled by their parent, the government takes up full custody of such child by training and catering for their needs and get them registered in a school.
She noted that the objective was to uphold the dignity of a girl child at all times.
“Through my pet project, Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programmes (FEYReP), we are currently building GBV center with about sixty rooms where victims of Gender-Based Violence will live and would be fully taken care of while we counsel them on the need to be strong,” she added.
She thanked the Norwegian and UNFPA team for the relief materials sent to them to be shared among women in the rural areas
“We got your gift in December last year and it was duly shared to vulnerable and poor women in the rural areas and you could see the smile on their faces,” she said.
Also so speaking, the secretary of Akwa Ibom state GBV Committee, Barr. Emem Ette thanked the team for their continuous support, adding that through the vision of her Excellency, Mrs. Emmanuel, a lot have been done for victims of gender-based violence in terms of creating and running a trust fund for the victims; provision of shelter; establishment of assault center and creating of awareness by using films, billboard messages, and radio campaign programs to pass strong messages.
On her part, the head of sub-office UNFPA, Ms. Marija Rakovic, said that men should be more involved in the areas of creating awareness in the stop against GBV in the state.
“You have done well in using your position as the first lady to create strong messages for this campaign and we are proud of what we have seen on ground.
“We want men to be more involved in this campaign because if they also speak out it will make things easier and at the same time send strong messages to all the nooks and crannies of the state” she added.
“I am also happy with the collaboration of the state government with NGOs and civil organisations. We must commend you for this because this gives room for more partnership from other bodies,” she said.
Also giving his remarks, the first secretary of Norway, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trygve Aurdal-Vold said that since the commencement of this project in Akwa Ibom they have been a lot of positive feedbacks from the victims and we applaud you for this.
“I appreciate all the effort put in place through your office. I am truly impressed and through continuous partnership, we are going to achieve more positive results.
“Assessing some of our projects, we were glad to engage with indigenes of those communities and this goes a long way to show what more enlightenment and awareness creations will do in the minds of such people,” he said.
