Oyo First Lady Leads Anti-GBV Advocacy, Calls for Shift in Social Norms

The Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Tamunominini Makinde, has spearheaded a renewed advocacy campaign aimed at curbing the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across the state. Speaking in Ibadan during a two-day programme organised by the Nigeria Governors' Spouses' Forum in partnership with the Ford Foundation, Mrs. Makinde emphasized the urgent need for a shift in social norms and stronger institutional commitments to protect women and children. The event, themed "Advocacy for Prevention: Shifting Social Norms and Strengthening State Commitment to End Gender-Based Violence," brought together critical stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and security agencies.

Addressing the gathering, the First Lady described GBV as a lived reality that thrives where silence is mistaken for culture. She stressed that no tradition or disciplinary measure should ever justify abuse, declaring, "Violence is not culture. Abuse is not discipline. Protecting women and girls does not weaken society, it strengthens it." Mrs. Makinde recounted her early experiences with GBV cases at the start of the administration's tenure, noting that these real-life narratives fueled her resolve to champion the cause of survivors.

The Governor's wife specifically charged traditional and religious leaders to become active agents of change within their domains. She noted that community transformation often begins with trusted voices and urged them to use their influence to challenge harmful norms. "When you speak, communities listen. When you act, the norms shift," she told the leaders, framing the town hall meeting not as a blame game but as a call to shared responsibility.

Mrs. Makinde also directed a special charge to the wives of local government chairmen, highlighting their strategic role in early detection and prevention at the grassroots level. She described them as standing at the intersection of governance and community, capable of spotting patterns before they become grim statistics. She urged them to move beyond judgment and instead focus on education and leadership to guide victims toward justice and support systems.

Also speaking at the event, the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, classified gender-based violence as a public health emergency with severe physical and psychological consequences. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening psychosocial services and emergency care for survivors. Similarly, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, commended the First Lady’s sustained investment in advocacy, noting that prevention begins with awareness and legal literacy.

The Chairman of the Oyo State GBV Rapid Response Team, Mr. Marcus Williams, provided data on the state’s response efforts, disclosing that approximately 640 cases had been reported and handled in the last 12 months. He highlighted the decentralized nature of the response structure across local governments, which allows for prompt intervention. Traditional rulers, including the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, pledged their support, calling for the campaign to penetrate the remotest villages to discourage out-of-court settlements that often deny justice to victims.