DON'T KEEP GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE TO YOURSELF, OGSG TELLS RESIDENTS
Ogun State Government has advised residents to speak up against every form of violence to the appropriate authority without any form of pretence.
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, while delivering a keynote address at the inaugural annual women's workshop of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB), with the theme, "Conceptualising Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as an Occupational Safety and Health Issue: A Holistic Approach to Understanding Causes and Eradication in Nigeria's Food, Beverage and Tobacco Sector", held in Abeokuta.
Aikulola said that the theme could not be more apt at the period when the entire nation needs to jointly establish the acceptance of Gender-Based Violence as an occupational safety and health issue, describing it as a human rights violation which affects both genders while females are more affected.
He said that there was a significant increase in the number of states that have domesticated the Gender-based Violence Prohibition Acts asides from the review of the National Gender Policy by the Federal Government in 2021, appreciating the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun who had been committed to speaking vehemently against the menace.
"Please, don't hide and don't pretend about it. The cry of someone is not a sign of weakness but strength. Enlightenment and education are critical for all stakeholders. I wish to re-emphasise the need for us to support Gender-based violence survivors at all levels. All hands must be on deck to look for ways to eradicate the social norms against women at work", he said.
Earlier, the FOBTOB National President, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, said the aim of the workshop was to create a secure environment for open discussion while devising strategies to combat Gender-Based Violence.
Femi Onasanya,
Press Officer, Ministry Industry, Trade and Investment.
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