Leading an unprecedented reform that borders on tackling violence against women and other criminal activities, the traditional ruler of Umutowe autonomous community in Olokoro, Umuahia South Council, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Eze G.C. Onwuka, has been commended for breaking cultural taboos of the community that was notorious for sexual and gender – based violence, drug abuse, oppressive widowhood practices where women were excluded from land ownership and the youth took laws into their hands to carry out criminal practices.

According to Onwuka, the community no longer practices the taboos they were into before. “The changes are manifesting in their own way as most of those problems were as a result of lack of education and that’s the reason we are educating the people.”

A woman Vice President General, Ngozi Obike, was appointed into the king’s cabinet to drive the reforms. Consequent upon the reforms, a rape survivor’s family found legal justice with palace backing.

Also, a widow freed from degrading rites, was provided support. Innocent youths as a result of the reform now feel safe in the community. This development was made known by the West Africa Broadcast Media Academy (WABMA) Foundation committed to eradicate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence through investing in community-based education and empowering the next generation to become change agents in their schools and communities.