Ogun State Government to set up a sexual and gender based violence court, Dapo Abiodun tells UNPF

Ogun State government says plans are on-going to set up a Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) court, to handle issues relating to sexual abuses and violence against defenceless people of the State.

The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun disclosed this today when he received the Country Representative of the UN Population Fund, Ms. Ulla Mueller, who was on a visit to the Goverrnor in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said issues relating to population and gender equality are germane to sustainable development, hence the domestication of the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP), ensuring that more female would be made to take part in governance process while efforts would be made to strengthen the Sex and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) response network in the State, amongst others.

Abiodun maintained that for the State to keep improving the welfare, well-being and wellness of its people. It was imperative government continue to jointly pursue the implementation of the with the world body.

He lauded the Fund for remaining a dependable and committed ally despite the fact that the state had not fulfilled its obligations for some times now, assuring that this year’s counterpart funding would be released to the agency.

“It is noteworthy that in the last five years, Ogun State Government had not contributed their own counterpart funding to UNFPA, this administration in line with our priorities saw the need to strengthen our partnership with you and we immediately resolved that we will begin to put things right, that is the reason why we paid the first tranche of our counterpart funding to you.

“It is also noteworthy of note that despite the fact that the counterpart funding was not forth coming, your agency remained a dependable and committed ally to the state,” he said.

The Governor while assuring the body that his administration has resolved to continue supporting the agency’s campaign of making the world a better place, said that government would continue to work at improving the State health sector.

In her remark, the Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund, Ms. Ulla Mueller, appreciated the Governor for approving the payment of its counterpart funding despite paucity of fund, congratulating the state for being among the lowest in terms of the global level of maternal mortality rate in the country.

Mueller added that the State was also on the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate of 32.1%, which means the state was not far from the Family Planning 2020 commitment, of 38 percent, called on the people of the state to join government in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.