By Bridget Ikyado Tikyaa
The Benue State Government through the office of Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, (BICD) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has held a one-day parley on tackling Gender Based Violence GBV, at the Grassroots with 23 Local Government Area Chairmen in the state.
The event was part of the yearly 16 days activism organized by the state to campaign and create awareness against GBV. The theme for 2024 event is “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Against Women and Girls.”
In a goodwill message, the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia affirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating GBV through comprehensive legal frameworks, collaborative partnership with NGOs and civil society and survivor support services.
He said the initiatives aim to foster a safer and equitable Benue state for all residents.
The Director General BICD, Leo- Angelo Viashima, while speaking to newsmen, said within the 16 days period of activism, the state government stands with survivors of GBV and make commitments and also collaborates with organizations to begins to put frameworks in place to ensure that such behaviours are not allowed in the state.
He said the event was also to send warning to perpetrators that they are not above the law and that the laws would catch up with them.
He said Governor Alia has recently demonstrated his commitment to ending GBV when he passed the disability law adding that the Governor is further poised to support all efforts that will eliminate GBV in the state.
Viashima stated that the Local Governments are autonomous and because Governor Alia respects their autonomy, BIDC have worked with the UNFPA to involve the Chairmen who are expected to take the conversations to the grassroots and establish a 23 stage platform where the state would begin to see a change.
He charged the elected Chairmen and their wives, as mother, to be girls and women champions in their respective communities to rid the state of GBV.
Also speaking the Special Adviser Bureau for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Denen Aondakaa, who appreciated the organizers promised that the discussions would not end in Makurdi but would be taken down to the local government to also co-opt the traditional institutions and enable the carry promote the sensitization and advocacy against GBVs cases.
The Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON), and Chairman of Guma LGA, Maurice Orwough said they will ensure all chairmen establishes an NGO to function as a GBV center with their wives participating to ensure issues of GBV and other vices were addressed.
He said Governor Hyacinth Alia respect and support for LG autonomy in the state has paved way for developments and effective service deliveries at the grassroots.
Orwough who stated that they will partner with Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs) to end GBV and other social vices said “For us at the LG, the message has been preached and an assignment has been given. We will take the messages to the grassroots and we will be working with our wives to ensure that the platforms are registered and established to tackle this challenge.”
Earlier, ALGON Deputy chairman, and chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin Ejeh, identified insecurity and drug abuse as a major factors fueling GBV in his locality among other areas and called for massive enlightenment to nip it in the bud.
He decried lack of advocacy at the LG level saying there was need to strengthen advocacy and awareness and also called for the establishment of a gender desk offices at the LGs with professionals employed to man the desks.
Speaking on behalf of UNFPA, a Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Analyst, Dr Hamira Welye called for collaboration and and capacity building of all stakeholders to properly equip them in the fight against GBV.
