The wife of the Gov. Mrs Priscilla Otti has called on Corporate Bodies, non-governmental organizations and individuals to support the present administration in its fight against gender based violence.

Mrs Otti who made the call at the Banquet hall, Government House Umuahia during a two day Training of State Response and Referral Groups Steering and Gender Based Violence committee for emergency response and referrals in Abia state,  organized by the women’s Aid Collective, WOACO, in collaboration with the office of the wife of the Governor, noted that the dignity of women and girls need to be restored.

The wife of the governor, who is also the Chairperson state Gender based violence  committee  described sexual gender  based violence as an abuse of human rights and restated her commitment to strengthening the response systems, ensuring accountability, improving coordination and building a response structure that truly  works for the people.

She expressed her readiness to partner non- governmental organizations, stakeholders and individuals with impactful ingenuities to create a safe environment for the State future generations and extolled Governor Alex Otti’s commitment towards prioritizing the welfare of Abia women and children, as well as care for the vulnerable persons in the state.

In his remarks, the Attorney General of the State, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna lauded Governor Otti and the wife Mrs Priscilla for their efforts in making Abia a crime free state, and promised to support the government on the issues of gender based violence while charging the participants to implement the experiences gained during the training.

In their addresses, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Mrs Maureen Aghukwa, her Poverty Alleviation Counterpart, Mrs Ngozi Felix,  the Commissioner for Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ifeyinwa Umar -Kalu, and that of  police, represented by the DSP Maureen Chinaka, commended Governor Alex Otti and wife for protecting the rights of Abia women and girls in addition to restoring their dignity and expressed  the ministries readiness to partner government in the fight against GBV in the state.

In their speeches, the Executive Director, Women Aid Collective, Professor Joy Ezeilo disclosed that the target goal of the foundation was to ensure that the fundamental human rights of vulnerable persons, women and girls are promoted and protected as well as ensure that vulnerable persons gain access to justice.

Our Government House Correspondent Ifeyinwa Nwohu reports that the event attracted the presence of the SSA to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Chinenye Nwaka and permanent secretary women Affairs Mrs Ogechi Oguama and other government functionaries.