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Congratulates First Lady on OAFLAD Steering Committee election
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has commended Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun for his decisive action in expanding Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Desk Offices to all police divisions across Nigeria.
In a statement she personally signed, the minister noted that the initiative aims to improve service delivery, ensure swift justice for victims, and reinforce the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence.
Previously limited to zonal and state commands, these specialised desks will now operate at the divisional level, making justice more accessible. Qualified officers will be appointed and trained to handle GBV cases professionally, overseeing the Juvenile, Women, and Children (JWC) section to create a holistic support system for victims.
“This expansion is a proactive response to the rising need for specialised GBV interventions and a significant step towards safeguarding vulnerable populations,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated.
She also pledged strategic support from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force, providing specialised training for GBV Desk Officers to equip them with the skills and expertise to handle reports with sensitivity and professionalism.
Reaffirming the force’s dedication to justice, the IGP urged citizens to report incidents of violence, assuring them of prompt and unbiased intervention.
In the same vein, the minister also congratulated the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on her election as a member of the Steering Committee of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the organisation’s highest decision-making body. Her election was announced during the 29th Ordinary General Assembly of OAFLAD, held on the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mrs Tinubu will serve a two-year term as one of two representatives from West Africa on the eight-member committee. Other elected members include First Ladies from Sierra Leone, Angola, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo. Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, was elected President of OAFLAD, while Angola’s First Lady, Ana Lorenzo, will serve as Vice President.
In her congratulatory message, Sulaiman-Ibrahim described Mrs Tinubu’s election as a recognition of her “visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to uplifting women, children, and vulnerable groups across Africa.”
She added that Mrs Tinubu’s leadership “will undoubtedly strengthen impactful policies and partnerships that transform lives across the continent.”
She noted that the First Lady’s work through her Renewed Hope Initiative has already garnered attention for its focus on empowering women and girls through education and healthcare access.
Her new role is expected to further amplify these efforts at a continental level.