Ondo SBS Movement Rallies Media to Drive Gender Justice
Side by side (SBS) Media Advocacy movement has called for the collaboration of media establishments to end gender based violence.
Speaking at a press conference held in Akure, the Ondo state SBS SouthWest Zonal Head, Rev Dr. Ebenezer Oke said the advocacy aimed at achieving two major things as a follow up on the conference Asks which came out of the transformative Gender Justice (TJG) conference held in Abuja in March 2025.
He mentioned to mobilize faith and traditional leaders and Allocation of 30 percent of the state budget to gender equality initiatives, with transparent public reporting.
He solicited for partnership from the media in fighting for gender justices.
To this end, he appealed on representatives of the media establishment to sign a memoradum of understanding (MOU) which was established as a collaborative framework between the SBS movement, Ondo state and the media.
In his welcome address, the Executuve Director of African Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD) to the Post Transformative Gender Conference Media Advocacy Side by Side movement Nigeria, Mr Monday Osai said the media advocacy demonstrated the commitment to ensure that the movement is given the opportunity to be champions in holding
Governments accountable and responsible for gender based legal and budgetary reform and promotion of women’s right.
Osai , who was represented by Dr. John Oladapo, the former Ondo state CAN chairman
Explained the significance of the event to equip journalists and media houses with evidence-based arguments and story angles to drive public pressure for the review of the progress and gaps in Maputo protocol demonstration and gender -responsive budgeting , re-sponsorship and swift passage of the Gender Equal opportunities (GEO) Bill in the National Assembly.
Also in a document made available to the media, the action point called the asks included publish and track annual scorecards detailing the progress of each states efforts to domesticate gender justice reforms, ensuring ongoing momentum and establish, empower monitoring bodies (gender machineries) within all ministries and across 18 of the Maputo Protocol .
Present at the event included Alhaji Dr. Yusuf Olalere, co-chair side by side movement in Ondo State, Deaconess Grace Ademokoya former WOWICAN chairperson and Alhaja Medinat Omikunle, President FOMWAN, Ondo state who is an active member of the movement in Ondo State.
