The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has stated that child abuse, violence, and discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are more than just social problems—they represent an economic crisis that endangers the nation’s development objectives.
The commissioner made this known during a Parliamentary Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence, Gender Mainstreaming, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Legislative Framework in Ogun State, held on Monday in Abeokuta. The event was organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) and the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Center (WARDC).
Adeleye emphasized that perpetrators often do not show visible signs and instead operate under the cover of silence, stressing the urgent need for collective action to ensure that every woman and child has access to justice.
She highlighted that the 45 sections of the proposed DEI Commission Bill serve as vital tools for transformation and protection, aimed at ensuring the inclusion of underrepresented groups in policymaking processes.
Adeleye stated, “When a child is molested or a woman is silenced, an entire generation loses its voice. When survivors are denied access to justice, we all become complicit in that silence.”
The legislative instruments currently under consideration—such as the Gender Mainstreaming Bill, the FRILIA Bill, the VAPP Law, and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Commission Bill—are more than just policy documents; they serve as vital tools for protection and societal transformation.
The proposed DEI Commission Bill, comprising 45 sections, is designed to establish a commission dedicated to promoting fairness, equal opportunity, and social justice.
The commissioner, however, affirmed that the ministry will continue to serve as a bridge committed to ensuring that no child is robbed of their innocence, no woman is stripped of her dignity, and no family is torn apart by apathy or neglect.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, emphasized that the bill is designed to safeguard the rights and privileges of all genders, not just women.
“The popular term is GBV, but it extends beyond that. It’s not exclusive to females we aim to protect the rights and privileges of everyone, whether male or female,” he stated.
He added, “There have been instances where men were raped by women — that too is gender-based violence. Our focus is on creating equal opportunities for all genders to thrive economically and pursue their goals in life, so that no one feels ridiculed or marginalized.
”In her goodwill message, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ajayi Lateefat, who sponsored the bill, stated that it passed its First Reading on the House floor last Friday. She explained that the bill aims to monitor progress, eliminate harmful stereotypes, and guide institutions on inclusive practices to ensure equal treatment for everyone.
In her presentation, Mosunmola Owo-Odusi, Project Coordinator of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), urged lawmakers to support the enactment and funding of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) legislation. She also called for the allocation of funds to Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), women development centres, and the maintenance of technical schools. Additionally, she advocated for the strengthening of land-right protection through agency legislation and the implementation of the FRILIA framework.
Meanwhile, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of the Women Advocates Research & Documentation Center (WARDC), remarked that the event was timely, as it comes amid a rising prevalence of gender-based violence in the state.
