As the Africa Women's Day is marked all over African countries. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) in partnership with Gender Development initiative has charged girls and women to always speak out and report perpetrators of gender violence to the concerned authorities so as to put an end to violence against women in the society.
The Programme officer of the NGO, Miss Omoraka Ifeoluwa gave the charge at campaign outreach organized by the body at Ibara Orile in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Addressing the participants at the event put in place in commemoration of the Africa Women's Day with the theme' Empowered Women, Empowered African" Ifeoluwa, who highlighted the visions and missions of WARD C to the communities and society at large, said the need to recognize and appreciate the existence, strength and positive impacts of African women in all African Nations formed the reason for the day's celebration.
" The need to create awareness in the communities so as to prevent violence, take collective action to protect communities against impunity associated with the problem, report any form of violence against women and girls and the perpetrators are all germane as measures to nip gender violence in the bud''.
"We give you assurance and support that will further strengthen the communities as sensitization will be on from time to time'.
In his address, a representative from a reputable financial institution explained that the bank has been established as an enabling opportunities where women can all benefit, access grants and loans to boost their businesses especially those that deal in Agriculture farm products.
He explained various types of loans that the women can apply for such as small scale business loan, as low as #250,000 upward and a collective loan they can apply for on group scale from #20million upward will be released to them once they have met the all necessary requirements.
'' This was set up by government to strengthen the women's capacity business wise and to also overcome economic hardship" he stated.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Central Bank of Nigeria Branch Controller, Ogun State, Mrs Odewole Omolara, called for Nigeria where women are represented and empowered as an equal members of the society.
Omolara informed the gathering about the CBN's agriculture credit scheme that has been in existence since 1977. She added that many business owners and women had benefitted from the scheme.
" The scheme had enabled farmers and those in agriculture businesses to get loan from their banks in which CBN stands in as guarantor to 70 per cent payment of the loan and to also return half of interest initiated by the bank to the beneficiary " she explained.
She also implored all concerned authorities to always do follow up on gender violence cases in order to bring perpetrators to book and serve as deterrent to whoever harbours any violence mindset to girls and women in the society.
During the short interview of the community members, they expressed their gratitude to the organization for such an Initiative.
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