Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi (2nd left); his wife and Chairperson, Gender Based Management Committee, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; with other members of the Committee, shortly after the Administration of Oath of Office, in Ado-Ekiti.
Harassing of female students in Higher institutions in Ekiti State may soon come to an end as the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has inaugurated a 16-member committee for the management of the Gender-Based Violence Prohibition .
The committee which is to have representatives from the Academic sector is to report any form of gender abuse in the society as well as in all the tertiary institutions across the State.
Inaugurating the committee, the Governor said his administration frowns on any form of violence against women; saying that the social and moral values are abused when there are “mindless attacks” on the female gender.
Dr. Fayemi who assented to the Gender Based Violence Prohibition law in November last year, recalled complaints by students at the last International Students’ Day of alleged harassment from their lecturers.
He said the inclusion of some members of the Academics will ensure the implementation of the Law in tertiary institutions across the State and address the complaints lodged by the students.
While stating that the Beijing agreement was to ensure that the rights of women are adequately guaranteed and protected, the Governor said the passage and signing into law of the GBVP has exposed the extent of gender violation in the society; adding that when such violation is not reported to the law enforcement agencies, it goes scot-free and becomes a habit.
Fayemi stressed that women should be treated with dignity but not as second class citizens or subjects.
Earlier, the Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi had commended the Governor for the support given to ensure the implementation of the law; saying that the law should not be seen as a tool for destruction of homes but that which will ensure a peaceful family with dignity.
The Wife of the Governor stated that government is interested in the relationship that exists between the two sexes even so in terms of creating a peaceful society.
While stressing that violence against the female sex is unacceptable, she said that the committee had already begun a sensitisation tour of the State and their experience will be documented so as to know the trainings to the people on the law.
The Committee which is chaired by Erelu Bisi Fayemi has representatives from the Nigerian Police, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Judiciary, the Attorney General of the State, the State House of Assembly, Ministries of Local Government, Education, and Health, office of the Governor and Non-Governmental Organisations.
More members would also be selected to represent the Academics.
Last modified: December 1, 2012