On Monday, the Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st), a non-governmental organisation in partnership with the Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), sensitized market men and women in the Somolu area of Lagos State on the prevention of gender-based violence.
The program was organised to sensitize and educate women and men in the Somolu market on Sexual and gender-based violence, for them to know their human rights -because they have the right to be free from all forms of violence.
C21st Program Assistant, Miss Tobiloba Ajayi during her speech said that the program is organised to sensitise women and men in Bajulaye Market on preventing sexual and gender-based violence.
“The purpose of why we and our partners are here today is to educate and make you all aware of this violence that are happening in the market, and we want you to confine in us through Iyaloja of this market and other leaders in the market if you see anyone that is going through this sexual violence we want you to inform us because if you don’t talk it will affect a lot of things.
“We also want you to also speak up and voice out anytime things like this happen. Don’t keep it to yourself and don’t ignore it even if the person is not your child ensure you voice out so that we can eradicate this act in the country, she stated.
The Centre Assistant and Hr Officer of WRAHP, Mrs. Nneoma Ezua who spoke to the traders educated them on the need to do away with domestic violence in other for conflicts not to occur in their homes.
” We are aiming for peace and that is why we are going round to our markets to enlighten our women and our men so that the day they call you and say this man beat his wife and you should come and settle the matter, you will be more educated and be able to explain to the man why you should not beat your wife and the woman why you should not use your mouth and beat your husband.”
She also emphasised how rape is very rampant in the market places today and how they can eradicate it by reporting it to the right authorities.
“The governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu has gone against rape and shows interest in any sexual and domestic violence in the state and anyone who is found in this barbaric act will not go unpunished.
“So if you find anyone in that illicit act in your environment make sure you report to the right authorities and I can assure you that justice will be done to the maximum level.”
The Iyaloja of Bajulaye market in Somolu, Chief (Mrs) Modupe Olufojude thanked the Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st) for organising this sexual and gender-based violence programme to sensitise the market women in the Somolu area of Lagos State.
Chief Mrs. Modupe stated that issues of gender violence are taken seriously in the market and if any case comes up they will inform the people involved.
“I can assure you that we will surely get across to you if there is an issue of gender-based violence in the market because we don’t joke with it and nobody can tell us because they know that the market people are government, so we cannot do anything that will hinder the government programme in the state.”
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, and Lagos State Ministry of Health also partnered with the organisation to ensure the people are well informed about this serious issue in the state.
