Disturbed by the high rate of gender violence in the country, a non-governmental- organization called “Boys Quarters’ Africa” has moved its enlightenment campaign train on violence against women and girls to Enugu the Enugu State capital.
Disclosing this to reporters in Enugu shortly after paying a courtesy call on the State Commissioner of Gender Affairs and Social Development, Princess Peace Nnaji, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of “Boys Quarters Africa”, Solomon Ayodele, said that they were in Enugu to partner with relevant bodies in the fight against women and girls abuse and violence.
Ayodele noted that over the years, women have been on the vanguard leading the struggle against physical and sexual violence, across different spectrum and focal areas, stressing it is essential that more men get involved to end the violence especially as much of the physical and sexual violence are committed by men.
“As part of the project implementation plan, we will be engaging people at motor parks, town halls with transport unions, market place with women, support group for women to learn and share life experiences. We shall establish “Boys Quarters Africa” against sexual and gender based violence, Boys clubs across 30 schools in the project states, namely Lagos, Abuja and Enugu”, he concluded.
Earlier in her speech during the visit, Princess Nnaji who was represented by the Parmanent Secretary in Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development, Dr Uzoamaka Okenwa, decried the increasing rate of abuses and violence against women and girls in Igbo land, saying it is assuming frightening dimension.
The state Commissioner said that the Ministry had been flooded with complaints of women and girls sexually abused, regretting that most of the victims do not want the cases to be officially prosecuted for fear of being stigmatized.
She lauded the Founder of “Boys Quarters Africa” for delving into the crusade against women and girls abuse and violence, urging him not to relent in his efforts to bring sanity to society.
“We are ready to partner with your group. The collaboration will be honestly and vigorously pursued. Women and girls are constantly abused and their rights violated and no sane person is happy with the ugly development”, she added.