By Faith Chondol
In a renewed effort to promote gender equity and protect vulnerable citizens, the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission has held a strategic engagement with the wives of the 17 local government chairmen across the state.
Speaking during the session, Chairperson of the Commission, Barr. Olivia Dazyam, commended the participants for honoring the invitation, noting that their involvement was crucial in the fight against deeply rooted social injustices.
She acknowledged that Plateau State has enacted several laws to protect the rights of women and children, but lamented that despite these legal frameworks, the state continues to grapple with alarming cases of child trafficking, molestation, abandonment of parental responsibilities, surrogacy exploitation, and gender-based violence.
Barrister Dazyam expressed grave concern over the increasing number of vulnerable parents surrendering their children to supposed benefactors who later subject them to abuse or slavery. She further highlighted shocking reports of widows resorting to selling their own children in a desperate bid for survival.
According to her, these incidents reflect a broader issue of female disinheritance, a cultural practice that denies women access to land and property simply because of their gender — a phenomenon she described as “cultural terrorism.” She disclosed that the Commission, in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Town Planning, is working tirelessly to eradicate such practices through advocacy and policy enforcement.
The Commission’s Chairperson urged the wives of local government chairmen to leverage their influence to drive grassroots sensitization. She tasked them with educating women on their rights, speaking up against gender-based violence, supporting survivors of trafficking, and encouraging their husbands to initiate empowerment projects for vulnerable women and children.
“As mothers and leaders at the grassroots, your voices must be louder,” she said. “If we tackle these vices early, we will build stronger families and a more just society.”
The session also featured insightful presentations by representatives of the NRC and Barr. Obioma Ngozi Achilefu, a legal consultant, who elaborated on the persistent denial of women’s rights to land and property in Plateau State. She stressed that while cultural practices are important, they must evolve to ensure fairness and inclusivity for all.
In a goodwill message, the Chairperson of WALGON commended the Commission for the impactful engagement and pledged the group’s commitment to sensitizing women across the 17 LGAs. She also appreciated the state governor for his continued support of women’s welfare and prayed for divine protection over his leadership.
The event marks a significant step toward strengthening advocacy networks at the grassroots level, as Plateau State intensifies efforts to safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children.
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