By Emmanuel Oluwakorede
Kogi State Government has been called upon to do more to reduce Gender Based Violence in the State.
The Executive Director of Challenged Parenthood Initiative, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun made the call while speaking on today’s edition of State of Kogi, a Radio Kogi Audience Participatory Programme.
According to reports, about sixty five thousand cases of Gender based violence were reported in Kogi State.
Out of the cases, twenty six cases were closed while sixteen are ongoing, a development that seems to have limited the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
The Executive Director of Challenged Parenthood Initiative, Eunice Agbogun noted that though the State is doing well compared to others, more is needed to be done to protect the people of the State Against Gender Based Violence.
She urged the State Government to give adequate support to Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission, PDCRC for effective implementation of the VAPP Act.
The Executive Director emphasized the need for the adoption of multi-sectoral approach in tackling Gender Based Violence in the State as well as gender responsive budgeting by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Agbogun charged the Ministry of Education to include GBV in school curriculum, stressing the need for aggressive Sensitisation on violence against people.
While describing Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as a Gender Responsive Governor, Agbogun expressed optimism that the VAPP Act will thrive under the present administration.
