Religious leaders in Kogi State have been urged to preach against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) and the stigmatisation of survivors.
A non-governmental organisation known as Protect the Child Foundation (PTCF), which made the call in Lokoja yesterday, also urged the religious leaders to counsel victims of sexual violence in marriage.
PTCF, with the support of the French Embassy Fund, in a separate advocacy visit by the organisation under its Project Ebulejonu to the respective leaderships of the Kogi State chapters of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), respectively, said victims of sexual violence need religious leaders to help them cope with the trauma.
The founder and Executive Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Ebulejonu Achimugu, who led the team on advocacy visits, noted that Sexual and Gender-Based Violence remains a silent yet serious crisis in Nigeria, especially in Kogi State, due to poverty, ignorance, weak law enforcement, and other challenges.
The NGO also urged them to report SGBV cases to appropriate law enforcement agencies instead of treating them as ‘domestic affairs’ within their community, emphasising the importance of including women and people with disabilities in decision-making, especially on issues that affect them.
“Women, children and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are disproportionately affected,” she said.
The organisation calls for improved governance at all levels to enhance the living conditions of the populace, particularly for the vulnerable population.
In his response, the Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of JNI, Ambassador Usman Bello, appreciated the visit by the NGO and stated that JNI, as an Islamic organisation, is doing all it can to promote the ideals of protecting and ensuring the safety of women, children, and persons with disabilities, as championed by the PTCF.
He mentioned that they also preach peaceful coexistence, understanding, cooperation, unity, and love through their Imams and Islamic religious leaders. He expressed JNI’s readiness to partner and share ideas with the PTCF as well as the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria to promote brotherhood, love, peace, and understanding, recognising that deviant behaviours will always exist in society.
Subsequently, the PTCF team visited the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kogi State Chapter, in Lokoja, where they were warmly received by the state Chairman of the Association, Special Apostle Pastor Dr Adebayo Olaniyan.
Barrister Mrs. Elizabeth Ebulejonu Achimugu, the founder and Executive Director of PTCF, stated the purpose of the visit, remarking that “with the support of the French Embassy Fund, Protect the Child Foundation is currently engaged in awareness, advocacy, and sensitisation around Sexual and Gender-Based Violence under its ongoing Project Ebulejonu.
“The focus of the project is to promote the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities. We have therefore come to seek your support in the fight against SGBV, in order to utilise the pulpit and your strong influence on your congregations.”
Also, the State CAN Chairman Special Apostle Pastor Dr. Adebayo Olaniyan, in his response, declared that the Church is not silent on issues of SGBV, as it often preaches against domestic violence, conducts pre-marital and ongoing counselling, and fosters reconciliation among couples and families.
He added that one major challenge is that most women do not speak out in time, even when they are experiencing domestic violence. Secondly, the church does not discourage women from reporting cases of SGBV, but perhaps factors such as archaic cultural beliefs, challenges within the judicial and legal systems, the Nigeria Police, and medical requirements for proof of sexual or domestic violence cases, among other inhibitions, contribute to the issue.
The chairman emphasised the need to reform the country’s justice system and highlighted the importance of economic empowerment for women, so they no longer have to depend on their husbands as their ‘alpha and omega’ for support.
He requested support from PTCF to help establish desk officers within CAN on SGBV, aiming to facilitate collaboration, data collection, and proper handling of SGBV cases.
The advocacy visits to religious leaders provided an opportunity for constructive dialogue and highlighted the need for collaboration to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and to protect the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities in Kogi State.
The NGO also took the opportunity to distribute some of its booklets and advocacy materials on SGBV to the clerics, hoping to spread the message among their respective communities. The PTCF expressed gratitude to the French Embassy Fund for its support and positive impact in Kogi State through Project Ebulejonu.
