September 28, 2022

The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), says it has groomed 400 boys on positive masculinity since 2019 till date.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Dada, said this on Tuesday, during the Year 2022 WAPA Connect Conference, with the theme: ”The Emerging Woman”, held at Victoria Island.

Dada said that the grooming was in a bid to eschew the pulsating trend of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Lagos women residents.

She said that WAPA decided to groom young boys on positive masculinity to respect the female gender from their formative years.

“Particularly, this will help reduce the number of Gender-Based Violence cases from the formative years which boys build-up their opinions and attitudes, into adulthood.

“ So far, 400 young boys, since 2019 have become recipients of this programme.

“Of recent, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, organised a stakeholders meeting on Domestication of Sexual Harassment Policy using gender lenses in Tertiary Education Institution in Lagos State.

“Fifty-five participants were drawn from tertiary Institutions and security workforces to attend the event,” Dada said.

The commissioner said that 10,400 women who were victims of sexual and gender based violence, as well as its associated societal ills like human trafficking, were trained on how to manage depression.

According to her, 12 of such women are recommended for entrepreneurial rehabilitation at four of the Skills Acquisition Centres in Lagos State.

“Similarly, 750 Students’ Union Leaders of the Tertiary Institutions of Lagos State were tutored on need to curb increase of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across all citadels of learning.

“The target is to educate students of the selected tertiary institutions, on ways to curb the rape menace and Sexual Assaults of female students in Lagos State.

“In like vein, to ensure that marriage institutions were secure for peaceful coexistence and societal growth, from 2019 to 2022; 600 couples were trained to align their responsibilities with the growing demand for their children’s moral well- being.

“Another move was made through a workshop organised for 200 Marriage Registrars to ensure that intending couples were properly counseled, before solemnisation.

“And, 300 participants were sensitised against all forms of sexual and gender based violence in celebration of the 16 Days Activism.

“The aim of the programme is to inform the public on ways of curbing such social vice in Lagos State,” Dada said. (NAN)