The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), declaring a zero-tolerance stance and taking bold steps to strengthen institutional and community responses.

 

As part of this initiative, a high-level steering committee was inaugurated at the Government House, Enugu. The committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, includes representatives from key government ministries and agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, and the Ministries of Justice, Health, Education, Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Human Development, and Local Government, alongside civil society groups.

 

Named the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence and Domestication of the Enugu State Gender Policy, the panel will adopt the Oputa Panel model, aimed at capturing community-specific issues through engagement across all 17 local government areas.

 

Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Peter Mbah—represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia—emphasized the administration’s dedication to preventing GBV and ensuring justice for victims. He stated, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and we are committed to proactive prevention and strict prosecution.”

 

He added that the government would closely monitor the committee’s progress through quarterly assessments, with attention to cost-effectiveness and tangible impact. Mbah also highlighted that the policy is inclusive and designed to protect all genders, urging men to speak up against violence as well.

 

Mrs. Enih, in her remarks, explained that the committee’s Oputa Panel-inspired approach would involve direct community engagement to understand local realities. “We’ll tour all 17 LGAs to gather firsthand information and ensure the gender policy reflects the people’s needs,” she said.

 

She emphasized that the committee would not only collect insights but also act on them, ensuring that the domesticated gender policy would be active, enforceable, and widely known among citizens.

 

“This is not going to be a policy that gathers dust on the shelf. It will be one that communities can rely on and demand action through,” she affirmed.