As part of its strategic mandate to eradicate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) across Lagos State, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) on the 19th of August, 2025, conducted a community engagement in Ibeju Lekki. The session was hosted under the royal leadership of His Royal Majesty, Alayeiluwa Oba Olayemi Lukman Arowolo, the Oba of Araromi Kingdom. This engagement formed part of DSVA’s ongoing collaboration with traditional institutions to strengthen grassroots prevention, create awareness, and promote timely reporting of SGBV cases.
The objectives of the engagement were to sensitize the people of Ibeju Lekki on the dangers of SGBV, foster stronger collaboration with traditional institutions in preventing and responding to SGBV, enlighten community members about the available reporting channels and survivor support services, and encourage community-driven strategies for SGBV prevention.
The engagement took place at the Palace of Oba Araromi under the leadership of Alayeiluwa Oba Olayemi Lukman Arowolo, with community stakeholders in attendance. Present were chiefs and elders of Araromi Kingdom, youth representatives, women groups, religious leaders, and Community Development Association (CDA) representatives.
In his royal address, Oba Araromi called on parents, youths, and community leaders to collectively fight SGBV by ensuring vigilance and reporting cases without fear. The DSVA team delivered an awareness session which educated participants on the causes, consequences, and legal implications of SGBV, as well as survivor-centered care. Community members were further sensitized on the toll-free helplines, Family Support Units, and referral pathways available to survivors. The session also featured interactive discussions, where participants raised concerns on cultural practices that may indirectly promote silence around abuse, and practical steps to address them were discussed.
The engagement recorded significant outcomes. It strengthened the commitment of Oba Araromi and his council to champion anti-SGBV advocacy within Ibeju Lekki. It also increased awareness among community members on the need to break the culture of silence around SGBV and improved trust between the community and DSVA as a reliable agency for reporting and support.
As next steps, DSVA will continue its collaboration with the palace to establish a community-based reporting desk. There will also be follow-up engagements with schools, markets, and religious institutions in Ibeju Lekki, alongside the training of community leaders as DSVA advocates for wider outreach.
The engagement with Oba Araromi, Alayeiluwa Oba Olayemi Lukman Arowolo, marks another milestone in DSVA’s community-centered fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The synergy between traditional institutions and government agencies remains critical in creating safer communities and ensuring justice for survivors across Lagos State.
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