By Felix Kuyinu
An entourage of delegates from Abia State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, have paid an understudy visit to the Secretariat of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA to form partnership and engage in learning and impart of knowledge in the fight against sexual related crimes and domestic violence.
The Women Affairs Secretariat of the FCT and Abia made the visit to the agency’s secretariat in Ikeja on Wednesday.
Executive Secretary, DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed to the visiting teams an overview and history of the agency. In her welcome address and presentation, she emphasized that the body was set up to protect the residents in the state against sexual abuse and domestic violence.
While mentioning that DSVA ensures that the motive is taken imperatively, Vivour-Adeniyi stressed on the need for indefatigibility, utmost commitment and resilience of all involved in eradicating the menace in reaching the desired target of a domestic violence free society.
The director noted that the DSVA has recorded significant progress in curtailing the negatives of sexual abuse, however, she mentioned that there is no room for reliance on the successes. She harped on referral pathway which has been mainstreamed into the various joint sectors.
Vivour-Adeniyi, who took the visiting counterparts on a facility tour at the Secretariat, commended the efforts of Lagos State Government under the stewardship of the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the fight against domestic violence.
According to her, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kazeem Alogba as well as the Lagos State House of Assembly led the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, have immensely put up efforts in enshrining laws to not only to protect residents but also ensure necessary prosecution on erring individuals.
The Commisioner for Women Affairs, Abia State, Honourable Ngozi Felix, expressed delight on the affable atmosphere granted by the Lagos DSVA.
Felix lauded the Lagos team for their incredible efforts in combating the situation of sexual crimes. According to her, the state operate as pace-setters, worthy of emulation by other counterparts.
She disclosed that the Ministry of Justice In Abia is collaborating with necessary stakeholders to ensure that the state has a clean bill of sexual crimes.
The Commisioner hinted that the state’s current dispensation has the political will against such crimes, reiterating that her team remains resolute in delivering on the statutory mandate.
She further added that Abia state is on a triumvirate alongside Ministries of Health and Justice in marshalling necessary stakeholders to fight the course of gender based violence.
The Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Laniyi, reminiscing the establishment of the body, said that it had embarked on sustainable initiatives to sensitize on lawful behavioral attitudes.
She noted that the body, in it’s nine months of existence is making it a necessity to bring tranquility in the FCT, curtailing the menace of unlawful behaviour by residents in the area.
Also at the event was the State Coordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti Corruption, RoLAC, Joan Abimbola, who commended the Lagos DSVA for taking on the delegates and assured them of continuous support of the group.
