The Lagos State Government has disclosed a concerning increase in domestic violence cases, reporting at least 340 instances of husbands being physically abused by their wives in the past year. This revelation came from quarterly reports by the Lagos Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), shared by the agency’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi.
Vivour-Adeniyi noted a rising trend in domestic violence reports involving men and expressed deep concern. She highlighted the agency’s active involvement in addressing these cases to seek peaceful resolutions.
Concurrently, the Lagos State Government, through the Joint Task Force on Implementation of the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection, has initiated a comprehensive monitoring and assessment program across the State’s Six Education Districts.
This Task Force comprises high-level representatives from various entities, including the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Lagos State Safety Commission, State Universal Basic Education Board, Child Protection Network, and Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency.
Vivour-Adeniyi emphasized that the monitoring initiative, starting from October 31, 2023, at Lagos City College in Sabo-Yaba, has engaged over 200 schools in Education Districts 4 and 5. Additionally, assessments were conducted in over 90 schools to evaluate compliance and identify areas needing improvement.
The on-the-spot assessments aimed to validate the practical implementation of policies and identify strengths and weaknesses in their execution.
During engagement sessions, representatives highlighted the significance of ensuring a safe learning environment within schools. They stressed the necessity for precautionary measures to guarantee safety and emphasized the corrective nature of the exercise, aiming to improve rather than punish.
The importance of safety measures within educational institutions, including the presence of security personnel, safety equipment, regular safety training, and well-maintained facilities, was underscored to ensure the well-being and security of students, staff, and visitors.
The Executive Order establishing the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, ratified by the state government in December 2016, mandates child-centered institutions to adopt protocols ensuring the protection and safeguarding of children under their care. This includes well-defined procedures for handling reports and disclosures of abuse.
