Sanwo-Olu’s wife backs campaign against drug abuse, gender violence
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has charged residents, particularly Muslims in the state, to join the government in waging war against drug abuse, and sexual and gender-based violence.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the weekend at the 2024 Eid-ul-Adha celebration organised by the First Family of Lagos State, held at the State House, Ikeja.
She said in addition to the spiritual perspective of the event, there was a need to harp on issues of drug abuse and SGBV such that everyone could also become ambassadors against these societal ills.
“We cannot underestimate the havoc which abuse and misuse of drugs have caused to our society, especially to our children who are leaders of today and tomorrow. As Muslims, you must increase public awareness about these vices through the Minbars in your various mosques,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu reemphasised that SGBV remained a crime against humanity and negated the teachings of the Holy Quran, “hence, I encourage everyone present to always say something when you see something. We must not relent in giving our women and girls a strong voice in society.
“No girl-child, I repeat, no girl-child or woman should be subjected to the harrowing experience of defilement, rape, domestic violence, and other associated crimes. Never should we allow the culture of silence to thrive,” she warned.
She added that the outcome of a recent stakeholders’ engagement organised by her office underscored the need for all relevant organisations and religious bodies to unite in the fight against drug abuse.
According to her, the stakeholders’ engagement which took place a few weeks ago, reawakened the consciousness of all participants to the need to increase public advocacy and to assist those who were already into drug abuse and drug misuse.
In May, the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation revealed that a total of 662 reports of domestic and sexual violence were received by the ministry in one year.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Bolaji Dada, stated this in Ikeja during a ministerial briefing in commemoration of the first anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
