Lagos, firm join forces to tackle gender-based violence

Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has partnered with an insurance firm, AXA Mansard, to raise awareness and enhance education about the scourge of domestic and sexual violence, particularly against the girl child in Nigeria.

According to a statement signed and released by Olusesan Ogunyooye, Head of Marketing at AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the partnership is to protect vulnerable girls in Lagos.

Ogunyooye in the statement stated that combating gender-based violence requires a multifaceted approach involving individuals, communities, institutions, and governments, drawing on global best practices and strategies.

“For us at AXA Mansard, our stance is that the future should not be at risk. If we are to protect the future, then we must protect the children. Building on our efforts against sexual and gender-based violence, we found it fitting to collaborate with the DSVA during this year’s edition of our annual global CSR week, AXA Week for Good.

“We recognise the remarkable work DSVA is doing to combat domestic and sexual violence in Lagos, and we see this partnership as an opportunity not only to acknowledge their efforts but, more importantly, to work alongside them towards our shared goal of eradicating violence from our society,” Ogunyooye added.

According to the 2014 National Survey on Violence Against Children in Nigeria, 25 per cent of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18, and 15 per cent of those who suffered physically forced or coerced sex before 18 became pregnant.

Ogunyooye described these statistics as deeply concerning.

“What is even more alarming,” he said, “is that these acts of violence occur in environments where children should feel safe, such as schools and homes. The ripple effect is an increasing normalisation of violence against children under the guise of cultural norms.”

Ogunyooye stated that with the theme, “Being a Girl Shouldn’t Be a Risk,” this edition of AXA Week for Good focuses on highlighting the impact of sexual and domestic violence on the girl child.

Commenting on the partnership, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, expressed her pleasure at the collaboration, describing it as a positive step towards addressing domestic and sexual violence against girls in Lagos State.

She noted that partnerships with the private sector, such as this one, are vital in amplifying the Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance stance on all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi added that DSVA remains committed to providing expert guidance and resources to ensure that initiatives under AXA Week for Good create meaningful impact and contribute to the broader goal of fostering a safer, more inclusive society for all.