Ondo NSCDC Commandant Visits Gender Matters Office, Seeks Partnership 

… As Special Adviser On Gender Matters Embraces Partnership Plans 

By Joseph Sunday 

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The Ondo State Commandant for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr Oluyemi Ibitoye has a paid an official visit to the office of the Special Adviser on Gender Matters in the office of the Governor, Chief Mrs Olamide Falana to seek for partnership just as she embraces the partnership plans. 

Welcoming the Security Chief into her office, located at the Ondo State Government at Alagbaka in Akure, the Special Adviser on Gender Matters  to the Governor, Chief Mrs. Olamide Falana expressed the readiness of her office to work with relevant agencies towards promoting gender matters in the State.

The governor’s aide made the above submissions while playing host to the newly-posted security Chief, who happens to be the 20th Substantive Ondo NSCDC State Commandant.

Addressing the visitors, Falana noted that the society revolves around relationships, revealing that, when it is good, the society is good and if it is bad, the society also becomes terrible.

She used the opportunity to emphasize the need for more work to be done because children are the outcome of such relationships which in turn, have great impact on the society at large. 

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She lauded the Ondo NSCDC boss, Ibiloye for his impressive contributions to the nation in line of duty even as she attested that the Gender Office had found an ally in him who shares the same passion in raising voices and taking action to promote Gender-based issues in the State.

Falana further expressed a strong belief in his capacity to change the negative narrative of gender discrimination still inherent when it comes to capacity building for women within the Corps and other work environment. 

”For women to be able to rise to the top of their career irrespective of their realities as a woman; we need men to help women towing the career path to bridge the years lost to child bearing by creating more opportunities and intensifying capacity building because if there are no children, the world cannot revolve“. 

On the issue of Gender-based Violence and Human Trafficking, the Special Adviser commended the State National Security and Civil Defense Corps for being responsive to the Gender Office and for their effort in leading the fight against the ugly trend of young ladies who are so bent on traveling abroad only to end up being exploited. 

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Chief Mrs. Falana seized the opportunity to point out another worrisome issue whereby girls within Akure metropolis between the ages of 13 and 18 years come out at night for sex work. ”We passionately appeal that you give more support to curb this menace“ she said. 

”The State currently has zero tolerance for Gender Based Violence; We have a VAPP Law and it is our legal backing to fight against it. Ongoing is the push for our home-grown gender policy in the State and soon, we shall host a stakeholders forum inclusive of all the security agencies so we can have a robust policy that speaks to every aspect”.

While giving her assurances to the State Commandant on continued partnerships, the Special Adviser appealed that more training on Gender-related issues be given officers across board and are not limited to gender assigned officers in the corps alone, noting that it would assist in increasing the level of sensitization. 

Earlier, the State Commandant, Mr. Oluyemi Ibiloye said the visit was necessary so as to build on the existing relationship and seek partnership to ensure all crimes against gender are phased-out thereby reducing discrimination against the sexes. 

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While addressing the issue of building women capacity in the work environment, he said ”I believe women should be given space in leadership despite there being some impeding factors relating to religion and culture, men must keep supporting women to ensure a balanced society”.

According to the Media Officer in the Office of Gender Matters, Debbie Funmilayo, the State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Oluyemi Ibiloye promised to keep open his doors for further deliberations and would continue to render necessary support to not only compliment the efforts of the Office of Gender Matters but also foster existing relationship between the two offices.

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