BENUE’S FIRST LADY INAUGURATES 22-MEMBER SGBV RESPONSE TEAM.

As follow-up to the 2nd Benue State Stakeholders’ Meeting on Gender Based Violence (GBV) which held two weeks ago, the Founder, Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) and First Lady of Benue State, Dr. Eunice Ortom, today inaugurated a Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Response Team to carry out concrete actions against SGBV in the State.

Inaugurating the committee, Dr. Ortom who described SGBV as “one of the most dehumanizing and degrading acts carried out on unwilling victims”, mandated members of the SGBV Advocacy and Policy implementation team to upscale the fight against SGBV.

Responding, Chairman of the Committee and Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Development Co-operation, Dr. Magdalyn Dura, said the Governor’s wife has been at the forefront of the fight to promote the interests of women and make them have equal opportunity with their male counterpart and live a life devoid of fear. On behalf of the committee, she pledged to execute the goals and aspirations outlined in the term of reference.

Dr. Dura, who is also the Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers, Benue State Chapter, pointed out that the SGBV scourge ravages men as well as women.Members of the Committee are as follows:

1. Mrs. Tabitha Igirgi – Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development.

2. Mrs. Ladi Isiegbe Ajene – Commissioner, Ministry of Youths & Sports Dev.

3. Dr. Mrs. Magdalyn Dura – Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) & Development Co-operation

4. HRM Mrs. Felicia Ayatse – Wife of Tor Tiv

5. HRM Mrs. Florence Obekpa – Wife of Och’Idoma

6. HRH Ambrose Iyortyer – Representing Traditional Rulers

7. Mrs. Gloria Bai – Zonal Commandant, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

8. Prof. Charity Angya – Former Vice Chancellor, Benue State University.

9. Prof. RMO Samba – Benue State University (BSU)

10. Rev. Akpen Leva – Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Benue State.

11. Alhaji Suleiman Dangiwa – Imam of Central Mosque.

12. Dr. Laadi Swende – President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Benue State.

13. Dr. Chisa Ugboaja – MWAN Benue State.

14. Barr. Hembafan Utange – International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)

15. SP Ann Ameh – Nigeria Police Force (NPF)

16. Dr. Mrs. Margaret Bija – Representative of National Council of Women Society

17. Dr. Victoria Daaor – Civil Society

18. Tine Agernor – Programme Manager, Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)

19. Shimataver Aondoakaa – Office of the First Lady of Benue State

20. Daniel Azembe – Office of the First Lady of Benue State

21. Dr. Maryam Yakubu – Federation of Moslem Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN)

22. Josephine Habba – Civil Society.

According to the Governor’s wife, “With a team like this, we will have a better story to tell about SGBV in the State”. Dr. Ortom observed that as rife as information on GBV cases are, most of them still go unreported.

The ESLF Founder pointed out that, “although many organisations have done a lot to fight SGBV, we still hear of new incidents everyday. Now we are standing up to say NO to it. Benue State already has the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP Law) but SGBV incidents still abound.

Therefore, we need to re-strategize on how ensure implementation and fight violence in every form be it physical, psychological or social.”

The SGBV Response Team was drawn from the civil society organisation, academia, religious bodies, security agencies and the media.

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