The Oyo State Government has inaugurated a steering committee and a technical working group for the effective and sustainable management of gender-related issues in the state.
The event, which also commemorated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, was held on Wednesday, at the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
While inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, said the fight against female genital mutilation and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence is not an isolated struggle, adding that they go hand in hand with the needs for economic empowerment and rehabilitation of women and girls.
She noted that the fight is also part of a broader agenda to ensure equal access to economic opportunities for both genders, human rights protection and social inclusion as well as building a society where gender-related issues are effectively and sustainably managed with collaborative efforts of relevant stakeholders.
Balogun further explained that the committees are to foster effective and sustainable collaboration across all areas and are also to develop within three months of inauguration a strategic, comprehensive and result-driven roadmap for the implementation of the Oyo State Action Plan for the Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation between 2025 and 2030.
She added that the committee is mandated to foster cross-sectoral policies to drive sustainable solutions, create a collaborative platform to address all forms of gender inequalities and related challenges, engage in community mobilisation and advocacy, access to laws and recommend improvement for protection of women and girls, as well as collection of data, monitoring and evaluation to track the effectiveness of various interventions.
Mrs Balogun urged all the stakeholders to work collaboratively towards creating economic stability, safer spaces for women and ending harmful cultural practices.
Delivering her goodwill message, the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, said eliminating the menace requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses education, community action, effective policies, support for survivors and global initiatives, urging the stakeholders to complement the efforts of the state government in eliminating the practices to the barest minimum.
Also in their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon (Dr) Mrs Comforter Olajide; Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Biodun Aikomo; and Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, assured of the committee’s commitment to the actualization of the stated objectives.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Dr Mofoluke Ibitoye, noted that the technical working group would serve as the engine room for strategic planning, data-driven interventions and capacity-building initiatives, while the Steering Committee would provide oversight, policy direction and advocacy to ensure sustainability and impact.
She urged the members to work collectively to break the silence and cycle of violence, and take action to provide support for survivors, challenge harmful gender stereotypes and norms that cause violence and as well build an egalitarian society where every individual, both great and small can live free from fear and harm.
The event had in attendance the Commissioner for Education, Professor Salihu Adelabu; Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr Adeniyi Adebisi; Permanent Secretaries and relevant stakeholders on female genital mutilation and sexual-based violence.
