Abia First Lady Urges Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence

Wife of Abia State governor, Priscilla Otti, has described gender-based violence (GBV) as an abuse of human rights, underscoring the need for concerted campaign to eradicate it from the state.

Mrs Otti spoke at a two-day training of State Response and Referral Group Steering and Gender-Based Violence Committee for Emergency Response and Referrals in the state, in Umuahia, the capital.

She restated her commitment to strengthening the response systems, ensuring accountability, improving coordination, and building a response structure that truly works for the people.

The first lady called on corporate bodies, non-government organisations, and individuals to support the present administration in its fight against GBV.

The chairman of the committee, who lauded Women’s Aid Collective (WACO) for organising the training in collaboration with her office, noted the need to restore the dignity of women and girls in the state.

The state attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, stressed public support for the campaign and charged the participants to implement the experiences gained during the training.

Other speakers were the commissioners for Women Affairs, Maureen Aghukwa; Poverty Alleviation, Ngozi  Felix; and Health, Ogbonaya Uche, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Ifenyiwa Uma Kalu.

They thanked the governor, Alex Otti and the wife for supporting the training and expressed their readiness to partner the government in the fight against gender-based violence in the state.

‎In her address earlier, the executive director of WACO, Joy Ezeilu, said their target is to ensure that the fundamental human rights of vulnerable persons, women and girls are promoted and protected.