Ekiti State Government and the World Bank Group have forged an alliance aimed at working together to tackle gender-based violence, rape and female genital mutilation in the state.
This was part of the outcome of an interface between the World Bank team and top officials of Ekiti State Government led by Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
Team Lead and Social Development Manager (Africa) of the World Bank, Senait Assefia, said there was need for government and development partners to consider how to tackle ‘critical emerging issues’ especially gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and rape.
Assefia said the bank’s decision to kick-off the partnership with Ekiti was connected to the leading roles being played by Fayemi in curbing the social menaces.
Fayemi had during the interface said his government had put in place several laws to tackle the menace but sustaining the implementation of the laws has been a major challenge.
The governor identified the weak justice system as one of the factors promoting impunity hence the decision of the state government to introduce psychiatry test and open register of sex offenders among other methods to discourage rapists.
Speaking on female genital mutilation, the governor said the genital cutting is a cultural practice which requires the support of traditional institutions for existing laws in curbing the social menace.
He also stressed the need to strengthen gender mainstreaming issues, adding that the government was taking different steps to ensure that all forms of gender violence were curbed.
Assefia who expressed satisfaction with the interface said the World Bank would soon come up with a report that would enable it determine how it could assist Ekiti in tackling the menace.
The meeting with the World Bank officials was attended by the Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade; Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr (Mrs) Folake Olomojobi among others.
