Stakeholders in the pursuit of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act Law in Ondo State today expressed their delight and commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, his wife Betty, for ensuring that the bill is passed into law within the shortest period it was drafted.
Governor Akeredolu signed the VAPPA Bill into Law today at the Cocoa Conference hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka Akure.
According to him, the all-encompassing legal document would protect all against violence of any kind, while commending members of the House of Assembly for judiciously worked on it.
In her remarks, the Wife of the Governor, who was at the forefront of ensuring that the VAPPA is domesticated in the state, lauded the efforts of the members of the Committee she set up for working tirelessly in ensuring that it’s a success.
She said: “As a sense of responsibility, the wives of governors of 36 states of the Federation, in unison we felt that we should do something about the incessant cases of rape and defilement of minors; we should lead the advocacy and the fight in our respective states; and I’m happy today that our efforts have come to fruition”.
She hinted that the process didn’t end on just signing into Law, but the need for implementation, saying, “The work has just begun, there is a need for awareness creation through town hall meetings, mobilize our gatekeepers, the traditional rulers and their Oloris. And the Government see should also play their own part because implementation is key”.
The Chairperson of VAPPA drafting committee, Mrs Catherine Ogunbi emphasised the need for implementation and called for the support of all and sundry, noting that the law is not Gender-Biased. She thanked the governor for the quick passage of the bill, and Her Excellency for her support to ensure it is being domesticated in the state.
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation, Mr. Austin Otabor described the development as another win of the governor. He averred that the VAPPA law was one of the important laws that protect the vulnerable ones in any state.
He congratulated the First Lady for the achievement recorded so far in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV, noting that Ondo State is the second in Southwest Nigeria to establish an agency that deals with SGBV.
The Desk Officer, Human trafficking Office of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mrs Yemi Agbede stated that the action of the Governor portends that he holds in high esteem, the issue of Women and children.
She also commended the First Lady for putting every mechanisms in place to ensure that the bill was passed into law, and noted that the law had provided the Law Enforcement officers in the state with the needed tools to ensure that perpetrators of SGBV face wrath of the law.
Dignitaries at the event included the deputy governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his wife, Oluwaseun; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. David Oleyelogun, the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; members of the House of Assembly and Cabinet members.
Others were Women Associations, like the Nigeria Council of Women Society, leaders of market women; members of the Forum of Wives of the Government Officials and Female Political Appointees(FOWOSO), school girls, Civil Society Organisations, among others.
Mary Agidi
Special Assistant on Media
Office of the Wife of the Governor