As the Africa Women's Day is marked all over African countries, two non government groups have charged girls and women to always speak out and report perpetrators of gender violence to appropriate authorities.
The groups,Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and the Gender Development initiative(Gendi)made their positions known at a campaign outreach to commemorate the anniversary, in Ibara Orile, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Programme officer of the NGO Miss Omoraka Ifeoluwa who gave the charge while speaking on behalf of the groups said the call became imperative to curb violence against women in the society.
Addressing participants at the event, with the theme" Empowered Women, Empowered African" Omoraka,highlighted the visions and missions of WARD C to the communities and society at large and called for an Africa that would recognize and appreciate the existence, strength and positive impacts of African women.
" 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'' she added.
Omoraka explained that the organisation's would always
give assurances and supports that would further strengthen the women folks and their communities, stressing "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 opportunity where women can all benefit, access grants and loans to boost their businesses, especially those that deal in Agricultural farm products.
He enemerated various types of loans that women can apply for, such as small scale business loan,minimum of which he said, was #250,000 upward and a collective loan that they could also apply for.
The Bank Official said that the second loan which is on group scale begins from #20million and 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 a Nigeria where women are represented and empowered as equal member of the society.
Omolara informed the gathering about the CBN's agriculture credit scheme that has been in existence since 1977, adding 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.
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