The Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Barr. Chinenyenwa Owuamanam, has applauded the Wife of the Governor of Imo State, Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma, for her unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) through advocacy and capacity building.
Owuamanam gave the commendation during a two-day capacity-building workshop on gender-based violence organised by Governors' Spouses' Forum (NGSF)-Ford Foundation for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Programme state-level capacity-building workshop held on July 2, 2026, at Rockview Hotel, Owerri. The programme brought together government officials, religious leaders, traditional rulers, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts toward preventing and responding to GBV across the state.
She described the First Lady's initiative as timely and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
According to Owuamanam, gender-based violence remains a major social and human rights challenge that requires collective action from government, faith-based organisations, traditional institutions and communities.
She stressed that participants must leave the workshop equipped with the knowledge, skills and compassion needed to prevent violence, support survivors, challenge harmful cultural norms and advocate for justice.
"The fight against gender-based violence is a shared responsibility. Every participant here has the potential to become a change agent within the family, workplace, congregation and community. Together, we can build homes where love replaces violence, communities where dignity triumphs over discrimination and a society where justice, peace and equality prevail," she said.
The Special Adviser further urged stakeholders to sustain awareness campaigns and strengthen partnerships that would ensure lasting solutions to gender-based violence in Imo State.
The workshop also featured goodwill messages from religious and community leaders, who described gender-based violence as not only a social issue but also a moral concern requiring attitudinal change and respect for human dignity.
Participants were encouraged to promote peaceful coexistence, reject all forms of abuse, support survivors and help build safer communities where women, girls and other vulnerable persons can live free from violence and discrimination.
The two-day workshop formed part of the Imo State Government's ongoing efforts, under the leadership of First Lady Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma, to mobilise stakeholders and strengthen the state's response to gender-based violence through education, advocacy and collaboration.
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