The Edo State Government through the Office of the First Lady, has reiterated its commitment to combating Gender-based Violence (GBV), particularly against women in the State as part of efforts to enhance the well-being of residents.
The commitment was reaffirmed by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, during a meeting with GBV survivors and beneficiaries of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at the Government House in Benin City.
In her address, Mrs. Anani stated that the Sen. Monday Okpebholo-led administration has a zero-tolerance policy for violence against women and Edo people at large, and prioritizes empowering women to enhance their self-sufficiency. According to her, “The Government of the day under the leadership of Sen. Monday Okpebholo, has zero tolerance against any kind of violence against the woman, in fact against anybody. It is also our duty to empower the women. You know when you are empowered you are self-sufficient. You are able to take care of yourself and take care of your family.
”I thank you for sharing your story. I always say that when justice is delayed, it looks like it has been denied. It is important that you speak out no matter how bad it looks. The first step is speaking out and then every other thing follows. I am happy that collectively, individually you were able to pick up the pieces, the scar might still be there but you are picking your life back again. As I said, the ideal is to help women. It is to make sure that we are able to have a voice”.
Mrs. Anani advised beneficiaries to make prudent use of the resources and avoid unnecessary expenditures, saying, “Honestly speaking, I pray that whatever they give to you will be used wisely. The ideal is not to have money and buy wrappers, it is for you to plant the money and water it, so that it can multiply and grow, and that is my prayer for everyone here. That the money that was given to you as a start-up, the Lord will bless and multiply it, so that you will have enough to give to other persons and be a support system to another woman”.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Mrs. Anani for her unwavering support and encouragement, which according to them, had significantly impacted their lives. They promised to make the most of the opportunities provided, utilizing the resources wisely to achieve their goals and become a source of inspiration to others.
Gloria Osemudiamhen
Public Relations Officer
Office of the First Lady
Edo State
PHOTO CAPTION
Middle: Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, with GBV survivors and beneficiaries of IOM empowerment programme, during a meeting at Government House in Benin City.
