…As Governor commits to working with Assembly on stronger legal backing
The Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has assured that his administration will provide strong political leadership, budgetary support and executive backing for laws aimed at preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in the state.
Governor Makinde gave the assurance while hosting representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) in partnership with the Ford Foundation during an advocacy courtesy visit led by his wife, Engineer (Mrs.) Tamunomini Makinde, at the State Secretariat, Ibadan.
The visit, themed “Advocacy for Prevention: Shifting Social Norms and Strengthening State Commitment to End Gender-Based Violence,” focused on strengthening state-level ownership of GBV prevention and response mechanisms.
“I give the assurance that we do have the political will to support the prevention of gender-based violence,” the governor said. “We have the way, and what is required of me is to provide the political leadership that is needed.”
Governor Makinde further assured that his administration would work closely with the Oyo State House of Assembly to ensure adequate budgetary allocation for GBV prevention and response, while also providing executive backing for the enforcement of relevant laws.
Earlier, the wife of the governor and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, Engineer (Mrs.) Tamunomini Makinde, called for sustained commitment to preventing gender-based violence in the state.
“Gender-based violence is not only a social problem; it is a development challenge, a governance issue and a silent economic drain on our society,” she said.
Mrs. Makinde urged the state government to prioritise GBV prevention as a core governance responsibility and ensure adequate funding for both prevention and response mechanisms.
“I respectfully seek support in three key areas: political leadership that prioritises prevention, sustained budgetary allocation for prevention and response, and executive backing for the implementation of existing laws, particularly the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the Child’s Rights Law,” she stated.
She added that prevention remains the most humane and cost-effective approach, noting that societies become safer when laws are enforced, communities are engaged and leadership is intentional.
The meeting formed part of an ongoing advocacy initiative by the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, aimed at strengthening legislative ownership and institutionalising gender-based violence prevention in Oyo State.
