Fight Against Gender-Based Violence: A’Ibom Rated Second Best

By Nelson Utip

The Womanity Index Report launched on December 4, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria by Invictus Africa and BudgIT Foundation has rated Akwa Ibom State as the second best after Lagos in campaign against gender based violence (GBV) and seen as one of the foremost model states.

A Press Statement by the Media Unit of the State Government, says that the Womanity Index Report employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection and research methods and assessed the subnational government’s commitment to GBV prevention and response applying five indexes – Laws and Policies, Access to Legal Justice, Support Services, Information and Awareness, and Budget and Spending. States were ranked using colour codes, both overall and individual index.

Akwa Ibom State’s ranking across the five indexes were Laws and Policy – Blue (Excellent), Access to Legal Justice – Yellow (Fair), Support Services – Yellow (Fair), Information and Awareness – Green (Very Good), Budget and Spending – Green (Very Good), and its Overall Ranking was Green (Very Good)
Other states who were ranked Green includes, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, FCT, Kaduna and Ogun States. Only Lagos State was ranked Blue.

The Womanity Index shows gaps in the implementation of SGBV Prevention and Response even among the Blue, Green, Yellow and Red States.

With the gaps in the implementation, Akwa Ibom State still has lots of room for improvement inspire of the progress recorded since COVID-19 on SGBV Prevention and Response in the State.

The statement said that Akwa Ibom State Government showed immense interest in GBV response and prevention after the COVID-19 pandemic through the instrumentality of the immediate past First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel, and the Akwa Ibom State GBV Management Committee.