By Joseph Edegbo :
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Monday assented to the law establishing the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Agency with the appointment of Ms.Lola Vivour-Adeniyi as the Executive Secretary.
Until her appointment, Lola was the Coordinator of the State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and UNFPA focal point.
A statement by Rabiatu Sageer of the UNFPA describes the development as a major milestone for the institutionalization of GBV response and a promising policy step at ensuring sustainability and securing funding for GBV response.
“It is a great effort at bringing GBV issues to the fore , and keeping the issue on the front burner and at the top of political discourse and indeed raises the bar for GBV response in Nigeria.
” With this, there is no doubt that Lagos is the State to beat in institutionalizing GBV response and we encourage other states to adopt this promising policy step.
“For us in UNFPA we are indeed proud of this achievement as the GBV team UNFPA is partnering with on the GBV Virtual and Referral Response Service has now been elevated to the status of a full fledged Government Agency which will come with full staff compliment and the budget line of Government funding as a full fledged” government institution.
“I make bold to say this is unprecedented in Nigeria and indeed the future is bright for GBV response in Lagos
“So many things may challenge us, but there are still things such as this, that bring us joy. Congratulations Lagos State, Congratulations Ms Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, Congratulations UNFPA”, she said.