ABEOKUTA — In commemoration of the year 2023 International Women’s Day, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Hope for the New Life engaged women resident in a community in Ogun state on gender based issues.
Participants were drawn from house wives, ladies, as well as young girls in Laderin, a community in Obafemi Owode local government area of the state.
In her welcome address, the founder of the NGO, Bolatito Ade-Onojobi called on women on need to be internet compliant, adding that with the innovation of mobile phone with digital facilities, the violence against women has been established to effectively address the menace.
Speaking on the topic, “Connecting to Digital Space in Ending Violence Against Women and Girls”, Ade-Onojobi pointed out that with the usage of cameras and other Internet facilities, it provides opportunities for victims to expose their tormentors, and therefore charged women to endeavour being equipped with the mobile phone with digital cameras and other relevant equipment
She therefore urged women to play supportive role for themselves if anyone of them is in a distress situation, by raising alarm for help to safe the lives of the victims, adding that women should also support their husbands in raising up their children and not turn themselves to burden in their various matrimonial homes.
She advised housewives whose life are being threatened by their husbands to make up their minds to quit the marriage as a way to avoid untimely death,stressing that they should not keep quiet whenever they envisaged danger
Meanwhile, the guest speaker, Motunrayo Segun-Okuselu pointed out that women remain everything at home, both the good, bad and the ugly, expressing optimism that one day Nigeria will attain relevance in women affairs as known in other developed nations.
The retired nurse spoke on the theme,”Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”, stressing that women should always be armed with digital equipment as tools to fight violence against them, and that they should always speak with one voice in addressing maltreatment against them from any quarters.
“Women remain everything at home both the good, the bad and the ugly. I am optimistic that Nigeria will one day attain relevance in women affairs as known in other developed countries. Women should not keep mute whenever they envisaged danger. They should not be permanent dependants at home. Women should also be proactive in supporting their husbands” she emphasized
Highpoint of the ceremony which was supported by Ford Foundation, include a book presentation, titled.”Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Law with foreword written by Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the Founding Director of Women Advocate Research Development and Documentation(WARDC) were distributed to participants
