Taiwo Bankole The wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, has advocated for strong support, care and justice for victims of gender-based violence. Mrs Abiodun has therefore hailed the determination of the state government under the World Bank-supported Ogun State Economic Transformation Project to build a Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Ijebu Ode to provide a support and care centre for survivors of gender-based violence. The First Lady disclosed this during the commissioning of the SARC building on Wednesday.
Mrs Abiodun described the construction of the SARC as a bold step taken by the state government to achieve the vision of a society where every survivor has access to the needed support from all stakeholders. She noted that as Chairperson of the VAPP Law Management Committee, she had been involved in addressing several cases of rape, sexual assault, and child abuse, and the experiences had shown the importance of referral centres as survivors needed more than just a promise of hope but justice with immediate care and emotional support. She said, “The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, which we have worked tirelessly to implement, is already yielding results.
“It has given survivors a voice, empowered communities to stand against perpetrators, and ensured that offenders face the full weight of the law. Through this law, we have not only witnessed an increase in reported cases but also a rise in successful prosecutions. “The Nigerian Police and ot.
