The Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has said all hands must be on deck in finding a solution to discrimination against the female gender.

In a townhall meeting with custodians of culture on the role of men in protecting women and girls tagged “Strengthening Family and Community Bonds” in collaboration with Women Radio 91.7FM in Abeokuta, Alake described women as the weaker sex, noting that any man who raises his hand to beat women shouldn’t be considered a responsible man.

He urged men to take charge and be responsible at all costs while also encouraging women to be more supportive instead of seeking divorce whenever there is a dispute.

“Any man who beats his wife can’t be counted as a responsible man; he should go out and look for a man like him to fight. Husbands are meant to be the head, and we pray that God will bless every man to be capable as a man,” he said.

“Women are described as a weaker sex, so they don’t have the strength that men do. I want to urge all men here that we should not raise our hands against our women, and we should always be patient enough with our women.

“This is just the beginning of our town hall meeting; we are still going to have much more of it.”

In his keynote address, Professor Ajao Adelekan, a former Director of the Institution of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, advocated for mutual respect between men and women.

He noted that Yoruba culture must be valued, urging men to desist from the 70/30 culture of foreigners.

He said, “There should be mutual respect between women and men. Men should desist from copying the foreign culture. As a man, we should take care of our women and give them what they deserve so they will not go astray.

“Men should also stop violence against women; this is a great sin in the face of God. As a man, we should always endeavour to make ourselves available whenever there is community engagement.”

Meanwhile, Women Radio 91.7FM, in a communique at the town hall meeting, urged faith leaders to speak on family issues during sermons and community meetings.

They urged security agencies to allow the law to take its full course and not resolve issues of abuse as a family issue.