Kogi NGOs & CSOs Join Forces: A United Road Walk to End Gender‑Based Violence on the 16‑Day Finale.
By Aisha Audu
Coalition of Ngos and CSOs in kogi state held a sensntization road walk in commemoration of the 16 days activism 2025
As the 16th days activism of gender based violence against women and girls comes to an end on the 10th of December 2025, the commissioner for women affairs and social development Acharu Okpanachi said that gender based violence is not just a women’s issue but a family issue, a community issue, an economic issue, a moral issue, and a development issue that affects children physically, emotionally and can change the direction of their lives for the worse.
She made this known during a Road Walk which started from Ganaja Junction and ends at the premises of the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The commissioner who was represented by the Permanent secretary of the ministry stressed that the productivity of the workforce, and the peace of the communities When a woman and girl including people with disability suffers violence, an entire family suffers.
She further said When a child is abused, the future is threatened and when society normalizes silence, injustice becomes a culture.
She promised the ministry’s support and collaboration with stakeholders to end this violence against women and girls in the state,she urged mother’s to lookout for their ward,she added.
The team leader of this year 16th days of activism Barr, Lilian Okolo reeled out the challenges faced by victims and she equally encouraged government to collaborate with stakeholders to end this menance .
Speaking,the Executive Director of Recef Muraina Idris Ozovehe said that this year 16th days of activism of gender based violence against women and girls is the coalition of Ngos and CSOs and this Year theme unite to end digital violence against women and girls is very vital to them
According to him,the Ngos and CSOs are ensuring that sexual assault centers are functioning to enable them to assist the survivors and he equally appealed to the commissioner affairs and social development to put in more effort to see that the centers are working across the state
Speaking further, State Coordinator African Women Lawyers Association( AWLA), Barrister Joy Oluwaseun Akinola, said this year activism against gender based violence is different because they have collaboration of the government and stakeholders who has supported the Ngos and CSOs .
She also advocate for more in infrastructure to enable survivors to come out of their trauma.
