In a strong show of unity against abuse, Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has partnered with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency to launch a powerful sensitization campaign aimed at tackling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) head-on.
Themed “SGBV – It Concerns Us All,” the Purple Campaign was part of the state-wide Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Held at the Council Secretariat and extended to communities across the LCDA, the campaign drew a diverse crowd: community leaders, market women, youth groups, advocacy bodies, and concerned residents all showed up in solidarity.
Notable dignitaries in attendance included Mrs. Aishat Dehinsilu, Hon. Shakirat Adesanya, Mrs. Hassan, Hon. Jimoh Odumeru, and Hon. Anthony Ajewole, among others.
Chairperson of Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, Mrs. Olajumoke Ajoke Anomo, led the charge, urging residents to speak out and reject the culture of silence that often shields abusers.
“We must create safe spaces everywhere: from homes to markets to schools,” she said. “SGBV is everyone’s business, and we all have a duty to break the cycle.”
Echoing this call, Executive Chairman Otunba-Akogun Wale Raji Anomo stressed the importance of vigilance at home.
“Parents must listen to their children. Spouses must choose dialogue over violence. When families get it right, society gets better.”
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Department for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) reminded residents that ending abuse requires community-wide action.
“No one: man, woman, or child, should live in fear. Empowering victims and holding offenders accountable starts with awareness.”
The campaign featured a street rally, interactive sessions, educational talks by officials from the State Agency, and the distribution of informative materials. Residents took pledges to raise their voices against abuse and sustain the momentum beyond the campaign.
“This isn’t just an event, it’s a movement, SGBV has no place in our communities,” participants declared.
The event reinforced the message that the fight against abuse starts with leadership and ends with collective action.
