ONDO OFFICE OF GENDER MATTERS EXPRESSES READINESS TO PARTNER RELEVANT AGENCIES

Read Time:3 Minute, 13 Second

ONDO OFFICE OF GENDER MATTERS EXPRESSES READINESS TO PARTNER RELEVANT AGENCIES

***As Aiyedatiwa’s Aide Falana plays host to NSCDC Commandant

The Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Gender Matters, Chief Mrs. Olamide Falana has expressed readiness to work with relevant agencies towards promoting gender matters in the state.

The governor’s aide made this affirmation while playing host to the newly-posted and 20th Substantive NSCDC State Commandant, Mr. Oluyemi Ibiloye and his team on a working visit to her office in Akure.

While welcoming the officers to the Gender Office, the Special Adviser who stated that the society revolves around relationships and that when it is good the society is good and if bad the society becomes terrible, emphasized the need for more work to be done because children are the outcome of such relationships which in turn, have great impact on the society at large.

She lauded Mr. Ibiloye for his impressive contributions to the nation in line of duty even as she attested that the Gender Office had found an ally who shares the same passion in raising voices and taking action to promote Gender-based issues in the state.

The Special Adviser expressed a strong belief in his capacity to change the negative narrative of gender discrimination still inherent when it comes to capacity building for women within the Corps and other work environment.

”For women to be able to rise to the top of their career irrespective of their realities as a woman; we need men to help women towing the career path to bridge the years lost to child bearing by creating more opportunities and intensifying capacity building because if there are no children, the world cannot revolve“.

On the issue of Gender-based Violence and Human Trafficking, the Special Adviser commended the State National Security and Civil Defense Corps for being responsive to the Gender Office and for their effort in leading the fight against the ugly trend of young ladies who are so bent on traveling abroad only to end up being exploited.

Chief Mrs. Falana seized the opportunity to point out another worrisome issue whereby girls within Akure metropolis between the ages of 13 and 18 years come out at night for sex work. ”We passionately appeal that you give more support to curb this menace“ she said.

”The State currently has zero tolerance for Gender Based Violence; We have a VAPP Law and it is our legal backing to fight against it. Ongoing is the push for our home-grown gender policy in the State and soon, we shall host a stakeholders forum inclusive of all the security agencies so we can have a robust policy that speaks to every aspect”.

While giving her assurances to the State Commandant on continued partnerships, the Special Adviser appealed that more training on Gender-related issues be given officers across board and are not limited to gender assigned officers in the corps alone, noting that it would assist in increasing the level of sensitization.

Earlier, the State Commandant, Mr. Oluyemi Ibiloye said the visit was necessary so as to build on the existing relationship and seek partnership to ensure all crimes against gender are phased-out thereby reducing discrimination against the sexes.

While addressing the issue of building women capacity in the work environment, he said ”I believe women should be given space in leadership despite there being some impeding factors relating to religion and culture, men must keep supporting women to ensure a balanced society”.

According to the Media Officer in the Office of Gender Matters, Debbie Funmilayo, the State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Oluyemi Ibiloye promised to keep open his doors for further deliberations and would continue to render necessary support to not only compliment the efforts of the Office of Gender Matters but also foster existing relationship between the two offices.