The Lagos state government has pledged to sustain the achievements made
in fighting SGBV through the EU-UN Spotlight initiative as the project
ends in December. The joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, aimed at
eliminating violence against women and girls and harmful practices and
promoting the uptake of sexual and reproductive health and rights
services was implemented in five states: Sokoto, Cross River, Lagos,
Adamawa, Ebonyi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). At an event
organised to mark the close of the project and handover of the project
to the Lagos state government on Friday 16 November 2023 in Ikeja,
stakeholders from across sectors gathered to celebrate the impacts of
the spotlight initiative with relevant agencies and representatives of
women groups recounting testimonies of the project and plans for
continuity as the project ends.

The first lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu through the SSA
Domestic Affairs to the Governor Motolani Ladipo appreciated the efforts
of the European Union and Union Nations through the spotlight initiative
highlighting the impact of the initiative on the lives of Women and
girls in Lagos and across the country while pledging to continue to
engage with stakeholders to upscale the efforts implemented in fighting
SGBV in Lagos state.
The state commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Cecilia
Bolaji Dada underscored the success recorded through various strategies
devised through the initiative and how the funding provided for the
project enhanced the provision of essential services for survivors of
SGBV, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, strengthening access to
justice and engagement of He for She’s to fight SGBV. Titilola
Vivour-Adeniyi, the executive secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and
sexual violence agency recounted some of the success recorded under the
project noting that 3,855 survivors had been attended to through the
SGBV virtual referral services and the establishment of a case
management system. Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Sexual
Offences and Domestic Violence Court urged survivors to report the cases
to security agencies and ensure proper filing of information to help in
the investigation and persecution of the perpetrators while urging
security agencies to diligently attend to these cases.

Anu Varghese John, Special Assistant to the Resident
Coordinator/Planning Specialist of the UN in Nigeria commended the Lagos
state government for its participation in the initiative and urged for
continuous effort till a safe society for all is achieved.

Esther Alaribe
news@wfm917.com
Women Radio 91.7