By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Some women in Lagos have been educated on gender-based violence (GBV) through an outreach put together by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited and the Women at Risk Foundation (WARIF).
The platform for the enlightenment campaign, Know Your Community outreach, was held at the Community Development Association Hall, Mushin, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, and saw the resident women receive lectures on concepts of sexual assault, the effects of GBV/rape on the survivor, GBV and the law, financial empowerment and the prevention of GBV among others.
Delivering her lecture on Financial Empowerment and the Prevention of GBV, the Head of X Academy at the NGX, Ms Ugochi Obi, discussed how abusers often use financial control as a tool to maintain power and control over their victims and how financial abuse can make it difficult for survivors to leave abusive relationships.
She emphasised to the attendees that they should strive to attend empowerment programs organised either by the government or private organisations.
“Attending job training and entrepreneurship programs can help women and survivors of GBV to rebuild their lives and achieve financial stability,” Ms Obi said and encouraged the attendees to develop a savings culture.
The Program Manager and Lead for Community Pillar at WARIF, Mrs Adeola Potts-Johnson, spoke on the legal implications of GBV and also the importance of ensuring survivors of GBV are properly protected and assisted in their recovery needs.
Addressing attendees, she noted, “We should all strive to help survivors rather than lay blames. Never assume survivors are at fault or knowingly contributed to their trauma. This encourages survivors to open up and share their experiences.”
NGX, through the Know Your Community outreach, shows further commitment to its sustainability agenda by driving social change in line with its community pillar and leveraging the partnership with WARIF.
