Airat Children Welfare and Women Concerned Initiative asks Oyo residents to shun violence

Airat Children Welfare and Women concerned initiative in partnership with Oyo state Ministry of Women Affairs and the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion and Reproductive Health has created awareness among residents of Oyo state on the need to shun all forms of violence against persons.

The Executive Coordinator of Airat Children Welfare and Women concerned initiative, Alhaja Airat Omowunmi Ogungbenro at a symposium Organised in commemoration of the 2024, 16 days of activism on ending Sexual and Gender based violence in Oyo State, said that families need to stay together as the economic situation in the country remains unpalatable.

She spoke more on the existence of the Violence against persons Prohibition law, warning perpetrators and violators to desist from such act that law as instrument of law would be used accordingly against violators.

Mrs Ogungbenro suggested that government should consider the current economic hardship and come up with policies that will alleviate poverty and more importantly reduce the cost of petroleum products in the country.

She also noted that the palliative been provided for the less privileged in our society should be given to them and not be diverted for other purposes that will not serve the public.

Also speaking at the event Mr. Emmanuel Yelotan, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Center for Comprehensive Promotion for Reproductive Health, encouraged everyone to continue to educate the people in their communities to shun all forms of violence.

He commended the organisation for creating time during the 2024, 16 days of activism to organize laudable programs that will impact the society.

He also said that CCPRH has partnered many NGOs and CBOs to further spread the gospel of peaceful co-exiatence in the communities and the country at large.

The chief Imam of Islamic High school, Alhaji Abass Giwa while speaking at the symposium spoke on the need to support one another as the economy of the country continued to be harsh towards citizen, that this will help others who are facing any kind of challenges.

He also charged the people already in the act of perpetrating evil to desist from doing so while those doing good should do more as the society needs more people to support the needy.

The Chairperson of Wowican, Ibadan North Local Government, Apostle Mother, Akinwande Sarah oluwatoyin said several program has been Organised to call for an end to SGBV in Oyo State as well as training Organised by various donor agency, government parastatal and preaching in the church as well.

She said Wowican does not support and kind of violence against persons over the years and assured the people that more will be done to further ensure that any form of violence will nipped in the budget.

One of the community leaders at the event, Chief Taiwo Oladiti said Sexual and Gender based violence is quiet rampant in Nigeria, stating that in other countries the laws on SGBV are implemented and perpetrators are brought to book.

He insisted that when perpetrators are brought to book, it will help to reduce the act in our society, while adding that anyone appealing for the release of perpetrator in the community should desist from such.

The Coordinator of the program, Mrs Riskot Kola Balogun said the program was Organised to sensitive the public on the need to end all forms of vices against anyone in the society.

She also urged women to be submissive and men be responsible to enhance family peace and progress.

The organisation also visited Bashorun market where traders were educated on the need to prevent any form of sexual and gender based violence in Oyo state.

The organisation told the market men and women that the state government will prosecute perpetrators of violence in any form, calling for peace in the home, community and that state at large.