Wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo has attributed steady decline in cases of abuses, sexual and gender-based violence in the state to the frequency of their exposure and reportage.
She mutted legal action against parents who release their underaged for house-helps, stressing that parents must produce children they could cater for.
Addressing women during the 2023 Women’s Summit in Awka, the first lady charged women to be solution providers to reposition the society.
She acknowledged women’s enormous responsibilities in society with huge financial attachment, but said those reasons were not enough to neglect the home front, which remained their primary duty.
She said, “Yes, your responsibilities which demands money is enormous. But you can’t be too busy to the extent of not taking care of the children God blessed you with.
“Make sure you know the state and welfare of your children all the time. Before you leave the house and when you’re back. Make them your best friend, not be a tiger to them so they can build confidence in you.
“Time has come for women to go back to the drawing board, put their homes in order and become game changers especially as it concerns proper parenting.
“A lot still needs to be done to get the society working again, especially in fight against cases of abuses, sexual and gender-based violence prevalent in the society and the need to access quick justice delivery.
She added, “As we prepare to go for our August meetings, let’s take the message of returning women to their rightful position in the family as agents of change, to their various August meeting.
“We must use it to sensitize women at the rural communities on the need to be agents of change and for parents to be conscious of the number of children they bring into the world.
“I must also encourage the women to embrace my Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo initiative. It is a comprehensive wellness package that will help women plan their lives and live healthy.”
Earlier, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo appreciated Mrs Soludo for always making women her priority, assuring continued enlightenment of women on need to be agents of change in the society.
She said the summit was opportunity to interact with the women and identify their challenges, especially at the grassroots.
She also said it was a veritable platform to sensitize the women on what government is doing in the area of women empowerment and how they could access them.
She said, “The Chukwuma Soludo administration has done a lot to aid the course of women. Most important of all them is the Children, Sexual Gender-Based Violence Court, where we are handling many cases that affect women.
“Also, there are various openings for women in the digital revolution going on in the state and the governor has been emphatic about ensuring gender equality in the distribution of all government largesse.
”So, this is a government Anambra women can call there own. Our Ministry is open to listening to their cries and providing immediate solutions to them.”
Dignitaries at the event Summit which usually ushered in the annual August meeting, included member representing Anaocha Constituency One in the State House of Assembly, Nkechi Ogbuefi and Traditional Rulers Wives Association.
Others were Commissioners of Education and Budget and Economic Planing, ASATU women, Traditional Rulers Wives Association veteran broadcaster, Mrs Hephziba Agwaniru, Dr Casmir Nnaemeka and Chief Magistrate of Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Magistrate Court, Genevieve Osakwe.
