Gov’s wife strives for end to gender violence

Lagos State Governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, joins the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

The Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria collaborated with Lagos State University to educate accounting students on identifying, preventing, and addressing sexual harassment.

The governor’s wife spoke on Thursday in LASU at a seminar titled, “Addressing Sexual Harassment on Campus: Creating a Culture of Respect and Consent.”

Mrs Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by a member of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, Oluwatoyin Suarau, said the coming together of SWAN and LASU would assist in creating a culture of respect, accountability and encouraging individuals to speak out against injustices and support victims of harassment.

Reiterating her office’s zero-tolerance for gender-based violence, she said, “Our position on SGBV is firmly rooted in the philosophy that women and girls, as well as men and boys, must be protected from these wicked acts.”

Highlighting the accomplishments of the (SWAN) over its 45-year history, National President Hilda Ofure Ozoh noted that the organization has successfully equipped hundreds of young women with the necessary skills to achieve financial self-sufficiency and empowerment.

“Today, SWAN feels indeed honoured to have been given the opportunity by LASU to reach out and impact on our ladies, one of our passionate areas, which is creating awareness on the evil of sexual harassment,” she added.

Lagos State University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Adenike Boyo, emphasized that the seminar’s theme aligns with the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of empathy and mutual respect, particularly in addressing issues related to sexual harassment.