Oyebanji’s Wife Advocates for United Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Ekiti State

The First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has urged Nigerians to stand together in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), stressing the importance of creating a society where survivors can find healing, justice, and hope, while perpetrators face the full weight of the law without exception.

She made this appeal during the fifth anniversary of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), popularly known as Moremi Clinic, located within the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in Ado-Ekiti.

Dr. Oyebanji emphasized that survivors of abuse need timely intervention, noting that reporting cases of gender violence promptly to law enforcement and designated centres could save lives and prevent tragic outcomes.

“This intervention is our collective responsibility in combating sexual and gender-based violence in Ekiti State. The Moremi Clinic is not just a physical space—it represents a sanctuary of justice, healing, and hope for survivors,” she said.

As the Chairperson of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence Committee, she highlighted the role of Moremi Clinic in the past five years, during which the centre has provided comprehensive medical services, psychosocial support, and legal assistance to survivors, while also ensuring accountability for offenders.

The First Lady reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence, assuring the public that the current administration remains committed to safeguarding the dignity and well-being of all citizens.

In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare, the Coordinator of SARC, called for additional staffing, utility vehicles, and digital equipment to improve the centre’s capacity to respond effectively to rising cases of abuse.

Similarly, the Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Professor Kayode Olabanji, revealed that the centre had provided essential support services to nearly 600 victims of sexual assault, helping them transition into empowered survivors. He further stressed the importance of collaboration among ministries, agencies, and organizations to strengthen service delivery and long-term solutions in tackling GBV.

The commemoration underscored the urgent need for collective community engagement, policy enforcement, and resource mobilization to sustain the fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria.