Stakeholders Seek Stronger Funding for OSAA-GBV to Fight GBV
By Roseline Okakah
Stakeholders in Ondo State have called for increased funding for the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) to enable it to effectively implement its mandate and tackle the rising cases of gender-based violence across the state.
The call was made at a one-day sensitisation programme organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the agency, focusing on referral pathways for victims of domestic violence and the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) Law.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch, Barr. Onimisi Umar, emphasised that adequate funding remains critical for the agency to discharge its statutory responsibilities, including providing shelters, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support for victims.
According to him, the agency is expected by law to offer comprehensive care for survivors, but inadequate financial resources continue to limit its effectiveness.
He noted that sustained investment is necessary to ensure proper rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into society.
Umar also highlighted the need for intensified sensitisation, noting that many stakeholders, including participants at the programme, were unaware of key provisions of the VAPP Law.
He advocated regular training and workshops for security agencies, legal practitioners, civil society groups, and the judiciary to strengthen collaboration and improve enforcement.
In her keynote address, the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Seun Bosede Osamaye, described the programme as a strategic platform to deepen discussions on referral pathways and enhance responses to violence against persons.
Osamaye stressed that gender-based violence goes beyond physical abuse, noting that emotional and psychological abuse can have severe and lasting impacts on victims’ mental health, productivity, and overall well-being.
She called for greater awareness of non-physical forms of abuse, particularly emotional neglect, which she said remains prevalent in many homes and often goes unreported despite its damaging effects.
The commissioner urged participants to take the sensitisation seriously and act as advocates within their communities, especially in rural areas, adding that prevention through awareness and vigilance is more effective than seeking justice after harm has occurred.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of the agency, Barr. Bolanle Afolabi, called for a critical assessment of the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks, noting that while awareness has improved, implementation gaps persist.
She explained that although the VAPP Law has led to increased reporting of cases, stakeholders should now focus on addressing practical challenges faced by victims and strengthening institutional responses to ensure justice.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ondo State branch, Bolanle Olafunmiloye, stressed the need for continuous evaluation of the law’s impact, noting that while progress has been recorded, stronger collaboration is required to overcome persistent institutional challenges.
Olafunmiloye, who was the resource person at the event, emphasised that strengthening women’s rights and ensuring access to justice remain central to the objectives of the law.
A participant, Mrs. Margaret Adebayo of the Global Awareness on Healthy Living Initiative, described the programme as impactful, expressing optimism that it would lead to concrete steps towards improved implementation of the law and better access to justice for women.
Participants unanimously agreed that increased budgetary allocation to the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence is essential to enable it to coordinate stakeholders, monitor the implementation of the VAPP Law, and ultimately achieve its target of reducing gender-based violence and ensuring justice for victims across the state.
