A call has been made for appropriate legislation aimed at restoring and entrenching the dignity of the female gender in Nigeria and protecting her against all forms of violence – domestic, family, societal and institutional.Association of Women in Governance (AWIG) and concerned Nigerians have appealled for an urgent end to the inhuman act and practices of melting out violence on women and the girl child in the country.
The 1-day panel discussion with AWIG theme “End to Violence against Women: When?” was held in lkeja Lagos.AWIG President and Chairperson Dr. Mrs. Bridget Gold, stressed the need for continuous sensitization by governments at all levels and appropriate agencies of government as well as in the media and Nigerian schools.
According to her, “We all join our voices to call for an urgent end to violence against women in Nigeria, challenging government at all levels in the nation, organizations, civil society bodies and the society in general to put an end to the inhuman and demeaning practice.”The deliberation was on sensitive various issues by AWIG, a pro-women and girl’s rights protection non-governmental organisation to mark the day. Gold emphasized that the women, girls and children are worse hit by these ill-treatments since they are most vulnerable.
The Panelist pointed out that the need to end violence against women is globally urgent and needful hence, the United Nations (UN) declared a day globally as the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.”
Among 5-member panel of discussants – Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, Moderator; Mr. Olaleye Folorunsho Bolaji, an Assistant Director Lagos State Ministry of education; Mrs. Onabanjo Gbemisola Fatima, Chief Education Officer, Education District VI, Lagos State Ministry of Education; Margaret Osakwe Special guest speaker and Agency Manager American International Insurance Company (AIICO) Others were Mrs. Love Agbebaku, Proprietress, Elm Montessori School, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos State and Mr. Michael Imong, Protocol Officer, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ikeja Lagos.
There was also school debate to create awareness, sensitize and proffer solutions to curb the menance. The inter-college schools’ debate on the Topic: “Women Are the Cause of Domestic Violence,” involving 5 Lagos-based schools – Greenbells College, Krystalbal College, Dominican College, Boxworth College and the host school – Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos.Prize were handed over to the three (3) winners of the school debate by the Chairperson Dr. Mrs. Bridget Gold.
