Wife of Ekiti Governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, has distributed cash and other empowerment packages, worth N6.9 million to 82 survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
While making the donations in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, Mrs Fayemi said that the gesture was to rescue the victims from poverty and neglect, which, she said, were common among people in this category.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed to the beneficiaries, who were victims of rape, domestic violence and neglect by spouses, included cash, sewing machines, freezers and food items.
Mrs Fayemi said that the state government, under the leadership of Gov. Kayode Fayemi, would continue to fight against the scourges of rape, domestic violence, child slavery and trafficking in order to safeguard the future of the citizens.
She said that the empowerment was largely targeted at women, being the major victims of GBV in the Nigerian society.
“I want you to use these materials very well. Don’t use them for burial ceremonies and don’t give them to anybody.
“Those of you who wanted to remarry should look very well and marry the right persons; don’t be too much in a hurry to do this.
“We have got your numbers; we will be monitoring you to know how far you have gone with effective utilisation of the materials; they are meant to make you set up small- scale businesses as means of livelihoods,” the governor’s wife said.
In her address, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade, applauded Mrs Fayemi for her passion for the wellbeing of the people of the state, saying this had helped in alleviating poverty among them.
“Mrs Fayemi believes that women must not live in poverty. She always attends to issues concerning them with utmost zeal.
“But, I want you to complement what government is doing by not diverting whatever you are given to other frivolous ventures.
“Like the governor’s wife has said, the ministry will continually monitor you to know how well you have used the materials. This is not for any other thing but for your own good.
“If you use the materials and cash wisely, poverty will be a thing of the past in your lives and government will be spurred into doing more,” the commissioner said.
One of the beneficiaries, who preferred anonymity, thanked Mrs Fayemi for giving hope to them, promising that the money and materials would be judiciously utilised.
