REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
The Abia state Government in collaboration with the European Union funded Rule of La and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme have inaugurated the Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC).Speaking at the inauguration of Nchedo SARC, at the Aba General Hospital, Governor Alex Otti expressed optimism that Gender-Based Violence(GBV) will reduce drastically in the state through sustained advocacy and institutional response.Governor Otti commended the Commissioners for Justice, Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection as well as Health for their contributions to the actualisation of the project.He appreciated the European Union for supporting the initiative in the state for one year and expressed the hope for an extension of the partnership.In a speech, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has described gender-based violence as prevalence and largely underreported across the country.Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim who said themenace affects all genders irrespective of age noted that Nigeria had 50 sexual assault centres across 24 states, assisting over 58,000 survivors.Earlier. the Wife of Abia Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, described the newly inaugurated centre as a symbol of hope, protection and accountability for survivors of GBV in Abia.In their separate contributions, the World Bank representative Mr Michael Ilesanmi and the Head of Programme, International IDEA/Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, Dr Danladi Plang all said that the establishment of the centre reinforces Abia’s commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
