Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has explained, that the purpose for the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP-LAW, was to have a sane society, bring peace to everyone and ensure that we sleep with our two eyes closed.
She added that the VAPP Law in Nigeria provides a legal framework for the protection of all citizens including vulnerable people such as women, men, girls, children, youth, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
The sensitisation meetings which were targeted at grassroots audiences was also printed in books in both English and Yoruba languages for better assimilation and understanding
The Ondo state First Lady made these known while sensitising stakeholders about the VAAP Law in Ondo North Senatorial District of the State who converged in. Owo, after the event had earlier been held in Akoko axis. The sensitization meeting will shift to Ondo South Senatorial District next week.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender, Research and Documentation, Mrs Temitope Daniyan, she described the gesture as one of the giant strides to ensure that every resident in the State live peacefully.
According to her; “We are here in Owo local government to sensitise the stakeholders and also to ensure that the grassroots have good knowledge and understanding of the content of the Ondo State VAAP Law.
She explained that the law is designed to eliminate violence in private, domestic and public life, prohibits all forms of violence against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of the offenders.
According to her, the innovations in the law from Section 1 to 52, give clearer legislation on rape, coercion, indecency, assault, stalking, forced isolation, spousal battery, female circumcision, harmful widowhood practices, to mention but a few.
“lt is important for us to let them know that we already have the law existing in the state, and anyone found wanting in any of the laws mentioned will definitely be prosecuted.
“We want to let everyone know that OSAGVB is life in Akure, it is an agency established by her Excellency to savage every issue causing Gender Based Violence, GBV.
“Anyone who has issues relating to gender base violence should report to the office of the First Lady and immediate action will be taken to savage the situation”, she assured.
In her contribution, the Executive Secretary for Agency Against Violence, Mrs Afolabi Balance, said the purpose for the meeting, is to sensitise the traditional rulers and religious leaders on the VAPP- LAW that has been passed and accepted in Ondo state.
“We discovered that many people are not aware of what we call VAPP-Law, let alone bringing the law to existence in their communities and this is aimed at helping the people reduce the incidences of gender base violence and as well, let them know that it is a social offense in our society.
“They are going to disseminate the information they have received here to their various communities, palaces and environment”, she stated.
The Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ in Ondo state. Comrade Tola Gbadamosi who described the initiative as laudable, said NAWOJ is at the event to collaborate with OSAGVB to ensure that the information gets to the people in the various communities.
The Chairman Owo local government, Chief Samuel Adegbegi, appreciated appreciate Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu who introduced the VAPP-LAW.
“We will ensure that people in our community abide by the rules and most importantly, parents should ensure they caution their children, that whoever violates the law will never go free”, he said.
Also speaking, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Owo local government, commended government over the message, saying it would assist to curb gender based violence which is rampant in the society.
Chief Iman of Government House, Yunisa Abdullahi, said the initiative was to ensure that everything against humanity is eradicated and thanked wife of the Governor over her efforts to bring sanity across the state through the VAAP Law.
The Apenusa of Ijebu Land, Mr Adenegan, expressed happiness over the opportunity given to them to have the knowledge of the content of the VAPP-LAW.
Dignitaries who graced the event included; local government LCDAs Chairmen, traditional rulers among others.