By Kelvin Ololo
In a bid to tackle Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Cross River State, Gender and Development Action (GADA) has engaged church leaders, youth, and women organizations on ways to mitigate harmful social norms and violence against women among religious folks in the state.
The one-day interactive Forum, with the theme ‘Male responsibility for transformation of harmful social norms that perpetuate gender based violence,’ held in Venetian Hall, Calabar, witnessed the attendance of clergymen, youth organizations, and women’s organizations drawn from Christian bodies across the 18 local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking on the essence of the forum, the Founder of GADA, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo charged church leaders to balance their teachings in addressing issues that affect both the physical and emotional well-being of their members, rather than focusing solely on spiritual growth.
Her words: “It’s a call for us to think about the best interests of the society, how the church can help build the family, because mentality comes from the interpretation of religious scriptures. If the church gives us the learning that we need, definitely the family will change.”
The former Federal House of Representatives Member highlighted the prevalent cases of gender violence in society. She fingered the root causes of GBV to be the failed state of the nation, wrong perception about the role of the male and female genders in families and as well as societal pressure on the male gender.
Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Apostle Frank Umoh, while commending GADA for the forum, said that males account for 80% of social vices in the society.
He averred that should churches handled it through sound Biblical teachings, it would be curtailed. He assured that “we as pastors are going back to our various churches to develop a program for our male children in our various churches, because the male child you train today is the armed robber you put out on the street tomorrow.”
On his part, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Richard Eyamba, who was represented by the Coordinator, who doubles as the Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Rt. Rev. James Iqwiro called on young people to work hard to get it right and lay a proper foundation for the future.
“My generation seems to have failed the younger generation, and we need to say we are sorry because we have not put it right. So I called on all young people, wake up from your slumber and take responsibility.”
In the same vein, parents were called to build a bond with their male and female children to inculcate proper moral upbringing as it concerns GBV without being too spiritual.
The forum was attended by CAN coordinators from the 18 LGAs, women leaders, youth leaders, and members of various churches in the state.
Highlight of the engagement were questions and answer sessions, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and a group photograph.
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