GBV: Kogi Promises synergy with the Press, grassroots to promote gender equality

…as Stallion times holds training on human Rights and Social Inclusion for 30 Journalists

By Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja

Against the backdrop of the escalating gender based violence (GBV) in the country, practicing Journalists have been told to focus more on advocacy, with the view to secure justice for survivors.

This is as kogi state government has promised a robust engagement with the press and to ensure the removal of impediments to gender equality in the state.

This was the summation of the participants at a one day media training on human Rights and Social Inclusion organised by Stallion times media services, supported by McArthur Foundation over the weekend in Lokoja.

In his paper ‘ Gender equality and social inclusion, Theophilus Abbah , PHD. noted that policy markers should ensure that Girl- child are mainstreamed to enable them to participate effectively in national lives and to remove all bottlenecks to their attainment of social and economic lives.

He added that female gender should be allowed to build and contribute to a just society devoid of discontentment where needs of women, girls , boys and men are mainstreamed equitably for national development.

He highlighted the article 8 and 9 of the UN charter on women’s rights to equality in all strata of human endeavours.

He called on Journalists to be the vanguard in the fight to eliminate inequality and gender based violence in its ramifications, saying it is not enough to dwell on sensitisation but to scale up advocacy to policy makers and the society to ensure that equal rights are enshrined irrespective of gender.

Dr. Abbah urged journalists not to fold their arms to injustice meted to female gender but to use their vantage positions to champion advocacy that will bring justice to the survivors.

He warned the society to avoid all forms of cultural and traditional inhibitions to the social and economic well-being of the girl child.

He lamented the systematic deprivation of the girl- child from the highest positions of governance in the country, saying , the situation where there are no women as governors in the 36 states, with low percentage as members of the states and national Assemblies and in the Judiciary arms does not speak well for the country.

He added that girl child possess equal talents and dispositions like their male counterparts , hence, should be assisted to lead in their areas of callings.

While calling on survivors of abuse to speak out , encouraged parents not to chide their wards, when infractions are noticed for the sake of stigmatisation.

According to him, some countries have started the mainstreaming of girl- child that has resulted in women leading their countries as Presidents and prime ministers.

In a remark, the Kogi state Special Adviser on Media, Isah Ismail, commended Stallion times for the Seminar and assured Journalists of a robust engagement that will end all forms of gender based violence in the state .

He promised to build on the cordial relationship that existed between the Government and the Press to move the state forward.

He charged Journalists to make sacrifices in the discharge of their duties to humanity by reporting accurately and to highlight on those elements that increases gender based violence.

He said, the last administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello has done well for the women in the areas of appointments and elective positions as women became vice chairpersons of the LGAs and no fewer than three women were elected as Councillors, even as the Secretary to the state government SSG and Head of service HOS of the state were women.

He enjoined Media Practitioners to shun misinformation, disinformation and fake news that have potentials to create tensions in the society.

He appealed to Journalists to chart new agenda for social inclusion that will mainstream and map out strategies to integrate into the governance net , those hard to reach communities and physically challenged persons.

While disclosing that the present administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to social inclusion, assured of setting up of a dialogue committee to roll out sustainable town hall meetings and to prioritise the role of traditional rulers in galvanising their people for the development of the state