Gender-based violence: Enugu Governor’s wife urges victims to speak out

By Adeleye Kunle

The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugochi Ugwuanyi, has decried the prevailing rate of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

Mrs. Ugwuanyi, therefore, called on victims of the inhuman acts to always speak out and not to be intimidated by keeping quiet while the perpetrators go scot-free.

The Enugu Governor’s wife made the call during this month’s women’s prayer rally held at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, yesterday, where she flagged off a 16-day of activism to enlighten rural dwellers on the negative consequences of gender-based violence, rape and other acts of domestic abuse, as well as the need for the victims to speak out for possible assistance.

Mrs. Ugwuanyi explained that the 16 days of activism will enable the organisers to touch all the local government areas and communities in the state to further sensitise the people on gender-based violence, stressing that “no knowledge is a waste.”

She disclosed that the Nigerian governors’ wives, concerned about the increasing rate of gender-based violence in the country during the COVID-19 lockdown, which forced victims and their perpetrators to stay together, came together and prevailed on their husbands (governors) to declare a state of emergency on GBV through adequate sensitisation.