We Assisted 30,000 Sexual Abuse Survivors

By Sunday Isuwa, Abuja

The British Council Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme has said that over 30,000 sexual abuse survivors were assisted in 20 states in Nigerians during the implimentation of their programme.

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The Director of Programmes, Chikodi Onyemerela, stated this in Abuja at an event marking the Dissemination, Lesson Learning and Close-out of the European Union funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme in Nigeria.

Onyemerela said over 12,000 indigent citizens received various forms of legal aid and assistance during the period of its implementation

“Over 12,000 indigent citizens received various forms of legal aid and assistance during this period of its implementation; and over 30,000 Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors provided support through the sexual assault and referral centres.

“It is important to underscore that ROLAC provided direct funding and technical support for the operation of 39 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 20 states of the Federation and was responsible for the establishment of new ones in Anambra, Edo, FCT and Lagos.

“The programme also enabled the state level adoption of the national anti- corruption strategy, and improved state public procurement processes,”

Meanwhile, the European Union said it remains committed in supporting Nigeria’s democratic efforts.

According to the EU, its support is predicated upon its conviction that “sustainable peace, development and prosperity are truly possible only when founded on respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

ALSO READ: Igala Forum Backs ADC's Leke Abejide For Kogi GovernorshipBy Abubakar Yunusa The Igala Leadership Forum (ILF), a distinguished assembly of Igala elites representing all nine local governments, including Bassa, has formally endorsed Hon. Leke Abejide, the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the preferred choice for the upcoming Kogi State gubernatorial election.In a collective stance, the Igala group has expressed its concern over the state's prolonged underdevelopment, poverty, and insecurity, attributing these challenges to the lack of competent and honest leadership by successive governors over the past two decades.With a keen desire to bring about a transformative shift in the state's trajectory, the ILF earnestly urges the people of Kogi State to exercise their voting rights judiciously and select the most suitable candidate for the task at hand.The elite forum emphasizes that supporting Hon. Leke Abejide's candidacy aligns with their commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of Kogi West, who have consistently supported the Igala community. The group also takes a critical stance against Usman Jibrin of the Accord party and Muritala Yakubu Ajaka of the SDP, accusing them of leveraging the current Igala situation for personal gains and vendetta. The ILF asserts that such actions have diverted attention from the genuine aspirations of the Igala community, necessitating a redirection and repositioning ahead of future elections.Ibrahim Oma Koji Attah, in a statement on behalf of the ILF, affirms Hon. Leke's friendship and sensitivity towards the Igala community, praising his track record of avoiding reckless statements or derogatory remarks about the largest tribe in the state. Furthermore, Oma-Koji Attah extends a call to other Igala candidates, urging them to foster collaboration and ensure that the historical relationship between the East and the West remains mutually beneficial.The group uses this platform to firmly caution Yahaya Bello against resorting to thuggery during the 2023 elections, asserting that vigilant eyes will be monitoring the process to ensure a fair and just outcome. Additionally, the ILF condemns the continuous misappropriation of workers' salaries by the government and places confidence in the Leke/Omede ticket to address this pressing issue.Meanwhile,the ILF encourages the Igala and Bassa communities to regard the people of Okun as brothers, fostering unity among the regions. The group places responsibility on Igala leaders who have engaged in unscrupulous dealings with Usman Jibrin and Muritala Ajaka, thereby undermining the integrity of the 2023 election process. The ILF firmly maintains that the return of the Ebira community to Lugard House in January 2024 must not be allowed.

The Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, who reiterated the EU’s commitment, observed that the EU is united in diversity-just like Nigeria in a sense, adding that unity and democracy must never be taken for granted, “they must be nourished”.

She said, “About 200 projects and initiatives are currently funded by the EU around the world, seeking to promote democracy and the rule of law and benefit the most vulnerable in the society particularly women and children so that they can have access to basic needs such as education and healthcare, and live free from violence and strife.

“With this in mind, the EU remains committed in supporting the Nigerian government at all levels in order to deepen its democracy, and endeavor for development for the citizens of Nigeria.

“We commit to continue supporting the consolidation of the rule of law and anti-corruption process in Nigeria with our technical and financial support and political engagement”, she stressed.

Speaking at the occasion, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, commended the level of synergy in the fight against corruption by the international community.

Represented by the Director, Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department, Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, the AGF disclosed that the federal government was able to make laudable achievements in the reform of its justice sector in line with international best practices due to the support of ROLAC.

“Their support has been fundamental in driving the needed reforms of the justice sector by my Ministry”, she said.

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