By Edoamaowo Udeme
The Nigerian Minister for Women Affairs Uju Kennedy- Ohaneye had on October 2023, raised an alarm over the skyrocketing of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
She was quoted as saying that less than one month, between September and October 2023, over 24,720 GBV cases were reported across the country, by November, she added that it has increased to approximately 28,000. In all these, 975 were fatal while only 306 got convictions the Victims / Survivors are mostly women and children.
This is likely in urban places where women are a bit emboldened to speak out but in rural and hard to reach areas these statistics may likely triple because intimidation, societal/community norms, family and religion has beaten them to develop the “Culture of Silence” as lack of support system has emboldened the perpetrators to do more. If a Popular Gospel musician like Osinachi Nwachukwu who lived in an urban area, could keep silent till it took her life, how much more a rural market woman?
For this reason and in the spirit of the 16 days of Activism, Tabitha Empowerment Center (TEC ), a non – governmental and not – for – profit organisation that is committed to eliminating domestic Violence recently rolled out it’s drums to launch “Dear TEC” meant to sensitize and create awareness through advocacy targeting individuals and communities.
According to it’s Nigeria-London trained CEO, Christiana Uzo- Okamgba, TEC also provide rehabilitation and psychosocial support for victims/ survivors of domestic Violence. “We are dedicated to providing developmental support, such as skills and empowerment for widows”.
“From inception till date we have continued to provide support for various communities through two main projects namely Anti gender based violence campaign and Empower Her initiative, through these initiatives widows, victim/ survivors of GBV, indigent children have received assistance through rehabilitation services, medical aid, legal and welfare, skill building and scholarship scheme”
“In additions, TEC undertakes the Anti – Gender- Based Violence campaign which disseminates preventive messages through community sensitization, medical outreach, dialogue with traditional gatekeepers, training of community champions to serve as “frontline officers ” to report gender-based violence cases to TEC. The campaign also establishes school clubs”
This is the sole reason TEC decided to collaborate with organizations such as, New life Specialist Hospital, Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers, Men engage Nigeria, Hope Alive Driven Campaign Initiative, She Mission Initiative and Network Against Domestic Violence Foundation in launching “DEAR TEC” to mark the 16 days of activism. Here the CSO are to play major roles according to their respective capacities in ensuring the reduction by half, or possible elimination of GBV in the near future.
Also speaking at the event, the TEC’s Advocacy Officer and In-house Lawyer, Gladys Emmanuel, noted that “the launching of DEAR TEC aims at demonstrating it’s collective effort towards eliminating sexual and gender-based violence by utilizing various strategies, such as the ‘Dear TEC’ platform”.
“With support from NAPTIP, and Legal Aid Council, Abuja. TEC also commissioned the Anti-gender-based violence community champions drawn from FCT villages like Kuje, Kurudu, Karu, Jikwoyi, and Ungwa Gede, Gidan Mangoro etc, who were trained to play the roles of being lynchpins where information are collated sent to DEAR TEC platform to be acted upon appropriately”.
“It is mainly to establish a platform where people can look for information, ask questions, and get professional advice on gender-based violence (GBV)” she added
Edoamaowo Udeme Founder/ Executive Director, Network Against Domestic Violence Foundation, praised the management of TEC for the opportunity to collaborate and tackle GBV especially as it concerns the rural communities
“Why this collaboration is timely is because GBV is becoming a pandemic in Nigeria and the easiest way to tackle it now is through the grassroots and the rural communities”
Uzo-Okamgba , having served in the Central Bank of Nigeria for 35 years, is a Matron of many Religious and Social organizations. She has a passion of helping the less privileged and this has motivated her over the years to spearhead visits to communities and orphanage homes.
An Ambassador for Peace and Fellow of International Institute of Leadership and Governance, Uzo- Okagba express these skills by reaching out and focusing on going through the Tradition Rulers to intervene, empower the widows, train Anti Gender Based Community Champions to ensure a GBV free rural communities
