By David Adeoye
Ibadan – The Human Rights Commission, on Tuesday, expressed concern over the rampant cases of sexual violence in Oyo State and sought for partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in curbing the menace.
Mrs Oyindamola Bamigboye, the state Coordinator of the commission made this known on Tuesday when she paid a courtesy visit to the state Director of NOA in her office in Ibadan.
According to Bamigboye, interactions with stakeholders across the state have revealed that a lot of sexual violence cases occurred and there is the need to curb them.
“The commission, with the main duty of promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria, now has a state office in Ibadan here.
“We thought it wise to partner with NOA in order to enlighten the people about these rights and what people should do when their rights are violated.
“Sensitisation of the public about sexual abuses, violence is vital in an effort to curb the scourge and our collaboration with NOA will surely enhance our activities.
“Parents and guardians need to be sensitised on how to protect their children and wards against sexual violence or other forms of violation of human rights.
“People should be free to come to us and report or complain about violation of their rights and the commission will certainly do its findings to establish facts and do the needful,” Bamigboye said.
In her response, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, the state Director of NOA, assured the commission of her readiness to support all the activities of the Human Rights Commission in the state.
Dosunmu said that cases of sexual violence and other women abuses were on the increase and needed to be curbed.
She promised to allow the Social Justice Department of the agency to liaise with the commission on how to urgently begin sensitisation of the general public on human rights violations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cedars for Human Welfare (CEHUWE), an Ogbomosho-based NGO used the occasion to present an award of Distinguished Leadership on the NOA director.
The coordinator of the NGO, Mr Oluwabukola Olatunji said that the award was to appreciate Dosunmu for her qualitative leadership style and roles played during the recent general elections in the state.
Olatunji noted that the voter education and enlightenment programme of the agency contributed immensely to reduction in void votes recorded during the 2019 elections.
He said that the NOA director attended over 100 programme in her efforts to enlighten the public before the just concluded general elections.
Dosunmu said that the award bestowed on her would make her to do more and urged people to always try to do their best when performing their duties.