Akwa Ibom First Lady Designate Vows Tough Action Against Gender-Based Violence
Lady Obareki urged survivors to speak out and called on the public to report cases of GBV, assuring that her office remains committed to ensuring justice for victims and enforcing strict measures against offenders.
UYO – In response to the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in Akwa Ibom State, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, has declared a firm stance against perpetrators, warning that justice will be served without compromise.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at the Government House, Uyo, Lady Obareki, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Akwa Ibom State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee (AksGBVMC), condemned all forms of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other violent acts, describing them as not just human rights violations but a threat to societal values.
“These acts are a stain on our collective conscience as a society. We will not tolerate any form of violence against women, children, or vulnerable individuals. The era of silence and inaction is over,” she stated.
She highlighted recent achievements of the AksGBVMC, including the rescue of human trafficking survivors, the arrest of individuals involved in child defilement, and the establishment of legal and reporting mechanisms to track and prosecute offenders.
Lady Obareki urged survivors to speak out and called on the public to report cases of GBV, assuring that her office remains committed to ensuring justice for victims and enforcing strict measures against offenders.
“We acknowledge the progress made, but much remains to be done. We must break the culture of silence and stand together against GBV,” she emphasized.
Providing legal insights, the Secretary of the State GBV Management Committee, Barr. Emem Etteh, clarified that under Nigerian law, children below the age of seven cannot be held criminally liable for GBV offences and would instead be placed in rehabilitation facilities.
She further disclosed that the committee has handled over 1,410 GBV cases, mostly involving intimate partner violence. She also noted the proactive engagement of stakeholders, including Traditional Rulers, market leaders, and schools, in sensitization campaigns aimed at breaking the silence surrounding GBV and enforcing bylaws in rural communities where customary practices often overshadow legal justice.
The press conference was attended by key stakeholders, including the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Barr. Helen Umana; the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Chairperson, Comrade Nsikak Okon; and the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) representative, Dr. Uduak Usanga, among other members of the State GBV Management Committee.
Lady Obareki reaffirmed her office’s commitment to fighting GBV and ensuring Akwa Ibom becomes a safer environment for all.
