Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Enugu State government, yesterday, took a major step in tackling gender-based violence with the formal establishment of a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Taskforce, a move stakeholders described as a decisive turning point in the state’s response to sexual and gender-related abuses.
The Taskforce was launched at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, through collaboration between the Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (ESERC) and the Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development, with funding from the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society (FEF-OSC).
The event brought together government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups and security agencies.
Commissioner for Children, Gender and Social Development and Chair of the Taskforce, Ngozi Eni, while speaking at the event, said the state had made a bold and clear statement that “gender-based violence has no home in Enugu State.”
She explained that the taskforce was deliberately designed as a functional mechanism with specific mandates on prevention, protection, accountability and multi-sectoral coordination.
“This is not a symbolic body. It is a force for action. Today, we begin a new era where every survivor is heard, every perpetrator faces justice and institutions respond with one voice,” she said.
Eni commended Governor Peter Mbah for prioritising GBV response and providing the political will needed to strengthen survivor-centred services such as shelters, legal aid, psychosocial support and safer reporting channels. She also praised the French Embassy and ESERC for supporting the initiative.
Commissioner for Health, George Ugwu, noted that the signing of the MoU by all partners reflected the state’s readiness to prevent GBV.
“The pain of experiencing GBV is unimaginable. For this reason, I call on us all to act responsibly, especially in moments of anger or under the influence of drugs,” he warned.
Lending his voice, the member representing Oji River at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Osita Eze, expressed deep concern over rising GBV cases and vowed that offenders would face justice.
He referenced recent incidents such as underage marriage and the killing of a 19-year-old girl by her uncle, insisting that the government would ensure full prosecution.
“The recent incident of underage marriage was widely condemned by the state government and every right-thinking individual. As for the killing of the 19-year-old girl by her uncle, it is a grave matter and the offender will not go scot-free. The law must take its course,” he said.
Religious and traditional institutions also pledged their commitment to the newly-established Taskforce.
Bishop of Nike Anglican Diocese, Rev. Christian Onyia, described the involvement of traditional and faith-based leaders as “the most sensible step,” stressing that GBV prevention would fail without them.
Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, reaffirmed the dedication of traditional rulers and called for constitutional recognition of their roles to enhance their contributions to community safety and justice.
Executive Director of ESERC, Rev. Ikechukwu Nwaogu, described the launch as a historic milestone in Enugu’s GBV response. He noted that the project had already transformed GBV reporting systems in Ebonyi State and was poised to replicate similar progress in Enugu.
He highlighted the project’s three pillars—community engagement, multi-sectoral coordination and economic empowerment for survivors—and announced several early achievements, including the training of community advocacy groups in Enugu East and Nkanu East, activation of the taskforce with all relevant MDAs and security agencies, and the rollout of seed grants for survivors.
He added that taskforce hotline numbers had been circulated widely across schools, markets, churches and community centres to encourage reporting.
Stakeholders collectively pledged sustained action to support the taskforce and help build a state where every child is protected, every woman is respected and every community rejects violence.
