By Ayodele Abere
Stakeholders in Ekiti State have pledged stronger collaboration and decisive action to end human trafficking, femicide, and gender-based violence, with a renewed call to move from awareness to measurable intervention.
The commitment was made at a one-day summit themed “From Silence to Safety: Uniting Ekiti State Against Human Trafficking, Femicide and Gender-Based Violence”, held on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital
The summit convened government officials, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media, traditional and community leaders to forge a coordinated response to the rising threats against women, girls, and other vulnerable persons.
The Convener and Founder/Executive Director of Restoration for All Inc., Minnesota, USA, Dr. Tolulope Monisola Ola, said the summit was designed to translate dialogue into practical interventions.
She noted that the initiative was inspired by resolutions reached at a Parliamentary gathering in Italy on October 16–17, 2025. According to her, Ekiti was selected due to her ties to the state and in support of the efforts of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji.
Representing the First Lady, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting women and girls from violence and exploitation. She said survivors deserve protection, justice, and support, not stigma, and stressed that GBV must not be dismissed as a family matter.
Mrs. Babafemi urged families, schools, and communities to create safe spaces for children and survivors to speak out, and called on residents to adopt a “see something, say something” approach. She also warned against deceptive offers of jobs, education, and travel linked to human trafficking, and advocated for stronger prevention and referral systems.
The Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, described the summit as timely, stating that trafficking, femicide, and GBV are issues of human rights, development, and public safety.
She noted that silence protects perpetrators, not victims, and commended Ekiti for existing frameworks including the Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law and survivor support structures. She, however, called for sustained strengthening of these interventions.
Also speaking, the Founder and Executive Director of Bill Wellness International Inc., Minnesota, Dr. Richard Oni, identified awareness, education, data collection, and collaboration as critical tools. He linked economic hardship and unsafe migration to vulnerability, and urged government to create more opportunities while ensuring data translates into policy action.
In a panel session, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Ministry of Justice detailed their mandates.
The Police emphasized investigation beyond arrests, NSCDC highlighted sensitization efforts, Immigration warned against false promises of greener pastures abroad, while NDLEA noted the link between drug abuse and exploitation.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ, Ekiti Chapter, Comrade Adewumi Ademiju, charged journalists to intensify public enlightenment and grassroots sensitization. She said laws alone would not suffice without enforcement and community participation.
In their resolution, participants called for a united and sustained response across government, families, communities, security agencies, CSOs, and the media.
They agreed that the fight must progress from silence to safety, from awareness to action, and from promises to results in order to protect the dignity, freedom, and future of women, girls, and other vulnerable persons.
