The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Tuesday reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as she paid a working visit to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who described violence against women and girls as a “community crisis that undermines peace, family life, and development,” said the Ministry was implementing new social intervention programmes under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to protect survivors and empower women.
Citing alarming national statistics, the minister said “31 percent of Nigerian women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence, while more than 28 percent have suffered sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
These are not just numbers; they represent human beings – our sisters, daughters, mothers and neighbours.”
She commended Ogun State for domesticating the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and for hosting one of the country’s model centres for survivor support.
The minister added that the Abeokuta SARC had become a “refuge of healing, dignity, and hope”, where victims receive medical, psychological, and legal support.
“The Centre demonstrates what is possible when government, partners, and communities work together. Survivors here are not only treated but assured that they are not alone,” she noted.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration for sustaining inclusive leadership by retaining a female deputy governor, and for its investment in women-focused initiatives such as the Nigerian for Women Project.
In her remarks, Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, said the SARC and the adjoining Women Development Centre were deliberately built side by side to ensure survivors of abuse transition from healing into rebuilding their lives.
According to her, while the SARC restores dignity and health, the Women Development Centre equips survivors with vocational skills in areas such as catering, hairdressing, fashion design, and entrepreneurship.
“When a woman walks out of the SARC, she should not only be healing but also building. This model ensures that recovery goes hand in hand with renewal,” Adeleye explained.
She stressed that Ogun State, with support from the World Bank through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), has continued to pioneer empowerment schemes like the Oko’owo Dapo Initiative and grassroots awareness campaigns against gender-based violence.
Adeleye, however, appealed to the Federal Government for more financial and policy support, saying the scale of the challenge requires stronger collaboration.
Both leaders agreed that Ogun’s initiatives represent a national model in addressing gender-based violence and empowering women economically.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim concluded her visit with a call for collective action:
“Together, we must build a Nigeria where every woman and girl is safe, valued, and empowered to thrive – just as the adire fabric of Ogun State transforms from simple threads into a masterpiece of strength and beauty.”
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