Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Uche Ugwu, has called for stronger community collaboration and open dialogue to confront the rising cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.
Ugwu described SGBV as a grave human rights violation that strips victims of dignity, security, and hope.
Speaking at a Ford Foundation-supported dialogue organised by Ada Oji-River Optimal Communications in Enugu on Thursday, the speaker stressed that ending SGBV would require the collective commitment of all citizens.
“Silence in the face of atrocities is complicity.
We must build a society where SGBV survivors are heard, not blamed.
Everyone has a role to play in stopping this menace,” Ugwu said.
He applauded survivors who have found the courage to tell their stories, noting that their voices were driving social awareness and prompting systemic reforms across communities.
Ugwu added that sustained public engagement would empower young people to understand the consequences of violence and make choices that promote respect, empathy, and equality.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of Ada Oji-River Optimal Communications, Mrs. Onyinye Udeh, described the event as a celebration of women’s endurance, community resilience, and the continuous struggle for equality.
Udeh emphasised that effective communication was rooted in “voice, visibility, and validation.”
“Through storytelling, dialogue and cultural engagement, we challenge the harmful norms that have silenced women for generations.
We have walked into villages where silence once protected abusers, and watched the same communities rise to defend survivors,” she said.
She noted that increased collaboration among traditional rulers, women’s groups and local organisations had produced remarkable progress in addressing SGBV in several communities.
Chief Executive Officer of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, Mr. Jude Ilo, commended the Ford Foundation for its 65-year commitment to promoting equality and human rights across West Africa.
“Women’s rights are human rights.
Women are our biggest asset, and any society that disrespects women cannot reach its full potential,” Ilo said.
He praised Ada Oji-River Optimal Communications for championing the cause, stressing that creating safe environments for women to thrive was critical to sustainable development.
Also speaking, a cleric, Rev. Fr. Mario Igbokwe, said combating SGBV required a transformation of mindsets and a shift in attitudes.
“The Catholic Church is against SGBV in all its forms.
To truly address this problem, we must walk the talk. Many of our social and psychological problems stem from unhealed trauma,” he said.
Igbokwe called for improved access to psychotherapy for SGBV survivors, while advocating women’s economic empowerment and sustained public enlightenment to break the cycles of abuse.
