Gov’s Wife Solicits More Partnership In Empowering Victims Of GBV

UYO

The wife of Akwa Ibom governor, Dr Martha Udom Emmanuel, has sought the partnership of international donor agencies in empowering victims of Gender Based Violence in the State. 

Emmanuel made the plea while receiving the Norwegian government delegation and the United Nations officials (UNFPA) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who paid her a courtesy call at Government House, Uyo. 

Emmanuel while appreciating the agencies for having a keen interest in Akwa Ibom State, acknowledged that partnering them since 2018 has made the work on reproductive family health, and GBV a lot easier. 

She informed the visiting delegation that the state government had set up the GBV management committee in the state to help tackle the menace of rape, stating that, so far, many culprits have brought to book. 

Emmanuel stressed that a lot of sensitization campaigns are ongoing amongst stakeholders in the state on how to tackle the menace of GBV, positing that more awareness would still need to be done to carry the men folk along. 

While informing the team that a 60-bed space GBV centre was still under construction in the state to help house GBV victims, the governor’s wife appealed  for more funds in empowering the victims of GBV as they will be kept within the GBV centre until they are stable enough to fend for themselves. 

Speaking earlier, the head of UNFPA Cross River suboffice,Ms. Marija Rakovic, thanked the wife of the governor for the positive results so far recorded in the state. She added that after conducting a statewide tour of various project sites, her leadership role and support all through the project period cannot be overlooked. 

She also noted that there is need to work more with men and get them involved in family planning. 

Similarly, the First Secretary of Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Trygve Aurdal-Vold, in his remarks also thanked Her Excellency for her passion and commitment in the areas of women, children and family.

He stated the need for a mixed approach in the fight against GBV in order for the committee and other NGOs to be able to fight the menace to a standstill and advised that small champions at local level should be included in the fight for a more effective result. 

Other people in the team present during the courtesy visit included: the Reproductive Health Specialist, UNFPA country office, Abuja, Dr. Musa Elisha, the Sexual Reproductive Health analyst UNFPA Cross River Sub-Office, Dr. Araoyinbo Idowu, the Sexual Reproductive Health analyst UNFPA country office Abuja, Dr. Baba Mari, Representatives from other NGOs, commissioner for health, Professor Augustine Umoh and the senior special assistant to the governor/ head of Department of Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Hon. Ndianabasi Udom.