Break culture of silence, speak up against gender based violence – NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to stop the culture of silence and begin to speak up against Gender Based Violence (GBV). The Director General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu gave the charge at a one day stakeholders engagement, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The event which brought together civil society organisations, the media, activists and key stakeholders committed to GBV eradication, was part of the global 16 days Activism from (November 24 – December 10, 2024) with the theme: Unite to end Gender Based Violence and was organised to discuss and chart the way forward in the crusade against all forms violence against women and girls.
Experts define Gender Based Violence as ‘domestic violence against women, men or children living in the same domestic unit.’ Women and girls are said to be the main victims of GBV, which takes the form of sexual-based violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment.
Mallam Issa-Onilu, represented by Director, Legal Services of the NOA, Barrister Williams Dogo, described Gender Based Violence as a pervasive and hydra-headed monster which has spread throughout the country, destroyed homes, even shaking the foundation of society in the process. The DG noted that immediate action is necessary to combat the menace.
According to him, the focus has always been on women and girls. However, the problem of gender-based violence he explained, affects people of all genders. He stressed that to address it from the ground up, human resources development and a shift in mindset are required.
Issa-Onilu stated: “We all agree that our human resources is a blessing to us and we need to develop it. But then let us not loose sense of the fact that it is the quality of the human resources that determines the pace, quality and ultimate realization of development.
“We have not been able to get it right because our emphasis has not been on human resources. So the National Orientation Agency is very concerned about this”.
The NOA boss revealed that the agency has created the National Value Chatter, approved by the Federal Executive Council, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a national value reorientation.
There were goodwill messages from various stakeholders such as CLEAN Nigeria as well as interactive sessions, including a panel discussion dedicated to exploring solutions to the myriads of challenges militating against the efforts to end gender based violence nationwide.
The Director of Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilisation at the Agency, Mrs Theresa Maduekwe in her speech, identified gender based violence as a worldwide problem that occurs in every facets of life. She said more needs to be done to encourage victims and those around them to open up. She therefore, called for unity among stakeholders and the populace in the effort to break the culture of silence and stigma associated with GBV.
