The Abia State Rural Access and Agricultural Market Project (RAAMP) has decried high rate of Gender-Based violence (GBV) in the country and called on all stakeholders to join hands to curb the menace.
The Abia State coordinator for RAAMP, Dr, John Babington Chibunna who disclosed this in a RAAMP Gender-Based Violence advocacy and stakeholders meeting held recently in umuahia Abia State, urged everyone to be proactive on the matter.
Dr. Chibunna, revealed that Abia RAAMP would construct 500 Km rural roads when the project becomes effective and urged Abians to support Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s-led administration ,adding that the governor is doing a lot to better the fortunes of Abians.
He further revealed that the selected rural roads for intervention cuts across 12 Local Government Areas (L.G.A.) in Abia State.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, Chief Eze Sunny Egbulefu, has described GBV as an aspect of RAAMP.
He said that essence of the event was to map out strategies for curbing Gender Based violence in the state.
Chief Egbulefu who also expressed delight that Abia State is involved in all the programmes carried out by the world bank project through RAAMP, further identified women and the girl child as the most vulnerable group.
Contributing, the representative of Jhpiego consulting firm, Mrs. Chioma Oduenyi stated, that everybody deserves to be treated well, noting that 35 per cent of women around the world has experienced sexual and physical violence.
“There is bound to be Gender-Based violence owing to major civil works to be carried out by Abia RAAMP, hence, the need to be proactive, put some measures in place and mitigate the ugly trend”, she further said.
She maintained that the goal of the exercise is to minimize/mitigate sexual exploitation and abuse that may arise during RAAMP project implementation in Abia.
Other dignitaries at the event include; the Abia state chapter Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Agomuoh, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Joyce, Chizuru Uchendu,, represented by, Deaconess Victoria Adindu, the Executive Secretary, Abia state planning commission, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie among others.
