By Omotude Idowu
Lagos State Governor’s wife, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to intensify the state’s zero-tolerance campaign approach to sexual and gender-based against women and children, stating that September is designated for awareness against all forms of sexual violence.
She disclosed this at the investiture of Mr Edwin Okon as the 18th president of the Rotary Club of Ojodu, in Lagos. She encouraged stakeholders and community leaders in the state to join the ongoing massive campaign to end violence against women and girls, especially rape and all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
She also revealed the plan to focus on educational institutions and the grassroots.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the wife of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Abimbola Odunmabaku, expressed concern over the alarming rate of this heinous crime against children, especially girls. She also urged parents and guardians to be watchful and do everything necessary to protect their children and wards from sexual predators.
Sanwo-Olu’s wife said that the decision to support the survivors of domestic and sexual violence in targeted communities is equally laudable. Moreso, it is in tandem with the commitment of the state government not only to ensure fitting justice for perpetrators but prompt adequate care for those at the receiving end
She said as the first point of call in the communities, religious and community leaders have key roles to play in scaling up the fight against rape, defilement and associated crimes.
Okon, in his acceptance, pledged their readiness to support the government’s efforts by providing succour to the needy and positively impacting the community through humanitarian services. He appealed to other Nigerians who are philanthropy-driven to join the Rotary Club in rendering selfless services to improve the communities, noting that we have to complement government support because it cannot do it alone.
He expressed readiness to serve, saying the club in this RotaryService Year (2022/2023) would be embarking on service activities. According to him, “each month, we are expected to carry out a community need assessment project.”
He reeled out some of the projects that have been undertaken in the past years, including creating awareness on sexual and domestic violence among schools in Ojodu
LCDA and its environs, construction of boreholes and provision of water in schools and communities, construction of modernised toilet facilities in Ojodu/Isheri Grammar Schools, free health care facilities for families living in Ikeja and Ogba areas, sponsoring of free medical outreach to communities in Ojodu and the environs, polio awareness campaign in communities and across the country, provision of free cervical cancer screening for women in the area, provision of scholarship and educational materials to indigent students in the community.
He said: ” In this Rotary year alone that started in July 2022, we have already carried out the following projects with more to come: Free annual medical insurance for families in conjunction with Lagos State Health Management Agency, building of botanical garden in Isheri Grammar School, renovation of block of 10 toilet facility in Isheri Grammar School, and distribution of food items in Ozanam House, Agidingbi Ikeja.
Guest speaker at the occasion was past district governor, Ijeoma Okoro.
Other dignitaries at the event included district governor, Omotunde Lawson, represented by her spouse, Francis Lawson; chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu, Group Executive Director, BUA Group; mother of the day, Distinguished Senator Dame Florence Ita-Giwa; Group Head, FMCG Union Bank, Morenike Falade-Olabisi; Editor, Sunday Telegraph, Geoffrey Ekenna; and Commissioner at the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, Fola Adewusi, among others.