The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, Oba Saka Matemilola, has emphasised the role of men in ensuring the protection of women and girls in the family and society at large.

Matemilola spoke at the 4th “Men-Only” town hall meeting organised by Women FM radio in collaboration with the Owu palace in Abeokuta.

The monarch stated that as fathers, brothers, husbands, and community members, men have a crucial role in fostering environments where women and girls can thrive and be protected.
He noted that men play a crucial role in maintaining harmony at home, adding that the man, as head of the family, ultimately determines a home’s success.

“Also, a man should be blamed for a home that is full of atrocities and destructive character. There should be a family bond. It helps to rebuild society through rebuilding the families individually.

“Government has the responsibility to ensure and enforce the law on those who violate women or rough-handle them. Also, those who perpetrate physical assault, sexual assault and all of that,” he said.

Matemilola urged the people to speak out against any infringement on the rights of women and girls.

Keynote speaker Tony Ojeshina, Asiwaju of Owu Kingdom, noted that urbanisation and modern pressures have eroded family bonds.

Ojeshina said that it was important to restore the spirit of communal living in a modern world.

“To strengthen family and community bonds, our children need more than financial support; they need time, guidance, and presence.

“The values we live at home as men are the values our children carry into society. If we want an honest and disciplined society, it begins with how we treat our spouses and respect elders,” he said.

According to Ojeshina, the strength of a nation is not only measured in its economy or its politics, but in the health of its families and the unity of its communities.

Others who spoke, including DCP Gbenga Adeoye, Dr Idris Oni of Crescent University, and Olumide Omosebi, a lawyer, concluded that men should protect women and girls.

They concurred that men must uphold the law by ensuring that perpetrators of sexual abuse and violence are brought to justice and that women and girls’ rights to economic and property ownership are respected.

Speaking earlier on the increase in sexual harassment and rape, Chief Executive Officer of the Gnosis Help Initiative, Dr. Olumide Omosebi, disclosed that in September 2020, a study was conducted in Abeokuta, which showed that out of 120 children, 57 had been raped before the age of 15.

“It is now evident that in Abeokuta North, one in every three girls will be sexually defiled before the age of 18; in fact, 40 percent will be defiled before the age of 16, and statistics show that the people raping them are related to them by blood or by marriage.”

“So when we want to take legal action against the perpetrator, they will say that we want to send their relative to prison, so therefore, it should be settled out of court.”

A girl in Sango was impregnated by her uncle at the age of 11. It was not until the girl was taken to the hospital that the doctor confirmed she was four months gone.

He noted that religious leaders are also culpable, noting that they always pleaded for mercy for the perpetrator instead of supporting the campaign.

“Instead of supporting that the case should be taken to court, they will say it’s the devil that pushed the perpetrator, and he should be pardoned.”