Daniel Osinyemi
The Gender Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, on Friday inaugurated the Baale of Ijeun Kobiti, Chief Oluwasegun Oluwaseun, alongside nine other community leaders as Community Advocates in Ogun State to tackle rising cases of incest, rape, sexual abuse, and medical-related vulnerabilities.
The inauguration, held in Abeokuta, drew notable stakeholders from government, civil society and traditional institutions.
Delivering the keynote address on “The Role of Community Advocates in Building Sustainable Advocacy Movement for Inclusive Health Policies and Right to Safe Choice,” human rights campaigner, Mr. Olufemi Oladejo, stressed the urgent need for grassroots advocacy to break the silence around gender-based violence.
He urged traditional leaders, families, and community advocates to protect women and girls, especially those facing the stigma of rape and incest-induced pregnancies.
“The role of an advocate is not just to speak for others but to drive changes in policies, laws, and attitudes that affect people’s lives.
“Combating gender violence and ensuring survivors of rape and domestic assault get the support they need is the very essence of advocacy,” Oladejo declared.
He further explained that the term advocate, historically rooted in legal representation, has expanded to mean public support for social causes.
According to him, community advocates must become the voice for the voiceless, particularly women and teenagers suffering in silence.
Speaking on behalf of the Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye, the Director in the Ministry of Women Development, Mrs. Olajumoke Adewusi, commended the NGO for championing the cause of vulnerable women and children in the state.
She called on citizens to report cases of incest, rape, or sexual assault to the authorities without fear, announcing toll-free helplines for survivors.
She said “The toll-free numbers are 08000000071, 08000000088, 08000000066, 08000000099, and 08000000555.
“These lines are available for survivors or anyone with useful information to reach us directly,” Adewusi said.
In an interview with PLATFORM TIMES, the Executive Director of Gender Development Initiative, Prof. Olubunmi Ashimolowo, lamented the traumatic experiences of many survivors of rape and incest.
She narrated the case of a physically challenged girl from Atan who was raped and became pregnant.
According to her, the victim, who suffers from spinal cord complications, had to be moved to the Federal Medical Centre but could not afford medical bills until the state government intervened.
“Should this girl, who does not even know the father of her unborn child, be allowed to suffer another round of trauma? These are the realities that show why laws must be reviewed for three critical groups: rape victims, incest victims, and women with severe medical conditions,” Ashimolowo noted.
She emphasised that the NGO, working with international partners, is currently mobilising community advocates to bridge the gap between survivors and policymakers.
“Our goal is to empower communities to sensitise people, take up cases, and pressure legislators to enact laws that reflect today’s realities. Survivors must not be abandoned,” she added.
Ashimolowo also pointed out that Ogun State has adopted the federal guideline on safe termination of pregnancies for rape and incest victims and women with severe medical conditions, urging survivors to seek professional medical help through licensed practitioners.
She said with the commissioning of the 10 advocates, the NGO expressed hope that grassroots voices will now play a stronger role in curbing sexual abuse and pushing for policies that protect survivors across Ogun State.
Chief Oluwasegun Oluwaseun, Baale of Ijeun Kobiti, who was among those inaugurated, pledged his commitment to ensuring community-level sensitisation against incest and sexual violence.
He assured that traditional rulers would collaborate with government agencies and civil society groups to protect vulnerable members of their communities.
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