Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured that his administration would provide political leadership, budgetary support, and executive backing for laws aimed at preventing Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The governor gave the assurance while hosting Representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum in partnership with the Ford Foundation on an advocacy courtesy visit, led by his wife, Mrs. Tamunomini Makinde.
Speaking during the visit themed: “Advocacy for Prevention: Shifting Social Norms and Strengthening State Commitment to End Gender-Based Violence”, Makinde assured that his administration would work with the state House of Assembly to ensure adequate budgetary allocation for GBV prevention and response mechanisms
The Governor, who shared a personal anecdote about family planning and gender norms, underscoring his commitment to protecting women and girls, promised to provide executive backing for laws aimed at preventing GBV.
He said, “I give the assurance that we do have the political will to support the prevention of gender-based violence. We have the way, and I just need to provide that political leadership they are looking for.”
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Tamunomini Makinde called for commitment to preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in the state.
She emphasized that GBV is not only a social problem but also a development challenge, governance issue, and silent economic drain.
She urged the state government to prioritize GBV prevention and provide adequate funding for prevention and response mechanisms.
The Governor’s wife sought support in three key areas: political leadership that prioritizes GBV prevention; sustained budgetary allocation for prevention and response mechanisms; and executive backing for the implementation of existing laws, particularly the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child’s Rights Law.
Mrs Makinde, who is the Vice-Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum, called for a decisive shift in social norms, a stronger institutional response, and sustained grassroots vigilance to curb the menace.
The First Lady stressed that GBV remains a lived reality affecting women and children across communities in the state.
Recounting her early exposure to GBV cases shortly after the first tenure of the present administration began, Makinde said the experiences shaped her personal commitment to advocacy, prevention, and survivor support.
These are not fiction. These are real-life narratives.
“Every society is shaped by the values it protects and the behaviours it corrects. Sexual and gender-based violence thrives where silence is mistaken for culture and where harm is excused as tradition.”
She declared that abuse must never be justified under cultural or disciplinary pretences.
“Violence is not culture. Abuse is not discipline. Protecting women and girls does not weaken society; it strengthens it.”
She charged traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to challenge harmful norms, noting that community transformation often begins from trusted voices.
“When you speak, communities listen. When you act, the norms shift. This town hall meeting is not about blame but about shared responsibility.”
The meeting was part of an advocacy initiative by the Nigerian Governor’s Spouse Forum in partnership with the Ford Foundation to strengthen legislative ownership of GBV prevention in Oyo State.
