Kwara First Lady Trains LG Chairmen’s Spouses on Preventing Harmful Norms, Gender-Based Violence

The First Lady of Kwara State and Founder of the Ajike People Support Center, Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, has called on spouses of local government chairmen to take the lead in tackling harmful social norms that promote Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across communities.

She made the call on Tuesday, February 10, 2025, during a capacity-building training organised for spouses of local government chairmen on the prevention of harmful norms that perpetuate GBV. The training was held at G-Pinnacle Hotel, Ilorin.

Abdulrazaq commended the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum for its continued leadership in promoting the protection, dignity and wellbeing of women, children and other vulnerable persons across Nigeria. She also appreciated the Ford Foundation for its partnership, technical support and commitment to community-driven social justice and equity.

The Kwara First Lady described spouses of local government chairmen as influential community leaders and role models whose position places them at the centre of grassroots mobilisation and social change.

She noted that Gender-Based Violence remains not only a violation of human rights but also a major obstacle to development, peace and social cohesion. According to her, beyond physical violence, harmful norms such as victim-blaming, early and forced marriage, silence around domestic abuse, rigid gender roles, and the belief that women must endure violence to preserve family honour continue to fuel the problem.

Abdulrazaq said the training was designed to equip participants with knowledge and practical tools to identify harmful norms, engage communities constructively, support survivors with empathy, and promote values that uphold respect, equality and non-violence.

She highlighted the efforts of her office and the Ajike People Support Center in supporting advocacy, community dialogue and compassionate leadership aimed at shifting attitudes and restoring hope to survivors.

The First Lady urged participants to intensify sensitisation and awareness campaigns on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in their respective local government areas, describing them as her representatives at the grassroots.

She further encouraged them to adopt dialogue, influence and empathy in addressing sensitive issues and advised them to collaborate with traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups, youth associations, men and boys, as well as social welfare officers to ensure survivors are heard and supported.

Abdulrazaq stressed that the prevention of GBV requires the active involvement of men and boys, urging the participants to engage husbands, fathers, sons and community leaders as partners in promoting respectful relationships and shared responsibility.

She concluded by encouraging participants to take the lessons from the training beyond the venue and into their homes and communities, while again commending the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum and the Ford Foundation for supporting efforts to end sexual and gender-based violence in Kwara State.