From Debra Ajulo, Ilorin
A university don, Dr Samuel Kola Ajiboye of the Department of Guidance and Counseling, University of Ilorin has identified counseling as an efficacious measure to stem the tide of Violence Against Women (VAW) in the society.
Dr Ajiboye disclosed this yesterday in his lecture titled “Counseling and Counseling Process for the Victims and Survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls” delivered at the Olive Community Development Initiative (OCDI) office, off Eiyenkorin road, Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
The lecture was a continuation of the two-day training exercise organized for the 15-man committee on Violence Against Women which was set up by OCDI and being sponsored by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with Actionaid Nigeria.
“Counseling is the most efficacious intervention for prevention of violence against women. It is very effective, very potent and particularly rehabilitating the survivors of Violence Against Women (VAW),” he said.
Dr Ajiboye described violence against women as very despicable, saying that infliction of injury on women, either physically or emotionally, is unacceptable, inexcusable and intolerable.
He explained that violence against women can come in various forms such as physical aggression, psychosocial aggression, and emotional, saying that intervention of counseling process remains a potent tool for the prevention of this socio-cultural war against women.
Dr Ajiboye identified masculine dominance, poverty, Patriarchal values, as some of the factors fueling violence against women and girls in all known human societies.
In her lecture at the training, Barrister Olaoye Jumoke of the National Human Rights Commission, Kwara state, described violence against women as a barbaric and retrogressive idea that needs to be addressed if we are serious about living harmonious life in the society.
Barr. Jumoke said Laws are clear about violence against fellow human being, adding that it is very appalling that women are usually victims of dehumanization, intimidation and other related forms of abuse.
Also in his presentation, the Kwara state Coordinator of Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Mr. Olufemi Oyedeji, called on committee members to be more proactive and diligence in their assignments so as to achieve the purpose for which the committee was set up.
Mr. Oyedeji said all hands must be on deck to collectively prevent violence against women and girls in Kwara state and Nigeria as a whole.
Meanwhile, Hajia Biliqees Oladimeji has been unanimously appointed as Chairman of the committee while Miss Busayo Olusegun emerged as committee scribe.
