The First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, has called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups, youth organisations and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to end sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), saying lasting change requires collective action, courageous leadership and the rejection of harmful social norms.
Mrs. Uzodimma made the call while addressing participants at a two-day stakeholders’ programme organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum in collaboration with the Ford Foundation under its State-Level Advocacy Engagement initiative in Owerri.
The programme, themed: “Empowering Grassroots Champions for Gender-Based Violence Prevention,” brought together spouses of local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women leaders, youth organisations and other community stakeholders to strengthen grassroots efforts aimed at preventing gender-based violence.
Describing the gathering as more than a routine engagement, the Imo First Lady said it represented “a call to leadership and collective responsibility,” noting that many harmful practices have persisted because they have been accepted and normalised over generations.
She urged spouses of local government chairmen to become champions in the fight against gender-based violence by promoting dialogue, educating their communities and supporting survivors.
“Violence is not culture. Abuse is not discipline, and protecting women and girls does not weaken society; it strengthens peace,” she said.
Uzodimma also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to promote justice, compassion and respect for human dignity, stressing that communities are transformed when respected voices speak out against injustice.
She called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders in advocating lawful interventions, protecting survivors and raising public awareness on gender-based violence.
“Every woman deserves dignity, every girl deserves protection and every family deserves to live free from violence,” she said.
The First Lady added, “When leaders stand together, silence is broken; and when silence is broken, change begins.”
The programme featured lectures and interactive sessions on gender responsibilities and gender-based violence delivered by the Director of Child Development and Child Care in the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Blessing Azubuike.
Uzodimma urged participants to speak out whenever incidents of gender-based violence occur and help break what she described as the culture of silence surrounding abuse.
She explained that gender-based violence takes several forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional and economic abuse, as well as harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, warning that such acts have severe and lifelong consequences for survivors.
Participants pledged to serve as advocates against sexual and gender-based violence in their respective communities by raising awareness and promoting attitudes that reject abuse.
Among dignitaries at the event were the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe; members of the State Assembly, commissioners, wives of local government chairmen; traditional rulers and their spouses, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), market women, youth organisations, and other stakeholders.
