Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has reaffirmed the State Government's commitment to strengthening social protection programmes and tackling gender-based violence through sustained investments, public awareness, and effective enforcement of the law.
Speaking at a Book Presentation titled “Who is she,” a book advocating for the protection of the Girl child, authored by the All Progressive Congress Deputy Governorship Candidate, for 2027 General Election Hon. Princess Damilola Sonayon James, at an event held at the Syrian Club Event Centre, Ribadu Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos, Dr. Hamzat said the state has developed a comprehensive social protection policy backed by a regularly updated social register of vulnerable residents, with the sole aim of making the system more inclusive and better coordinated.
"Lagos has a state policy on social protection and a registry of people who need to be protected. It is updated regularly to cover children, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. We will continue to improve the system to make it more inclusive and better organised," Hamzat said.
According to the Deputy Governor, the State's social protection framework is implemented through various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government covering critical areas such as Women's Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Youth & Social Development, Wealth Creation & Employment, Domestic Violence prevention and the welfare of children, women and persons with disabilities.
On the fight against gender-based violence, Dr. Hamzat stressed the importance of ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable, adding that public awareness of successful prosecutions would reinforce the message that abuse is unacceptable and punishable under the law.
"We need to ensure that when people are found guilty, it is made obvious. People must know that gender-based violence is wrong, criminal, and will not be tolerated. “There must also be greater attention to the upbringing of boys, just as attention is on girl child protection. Young men must be deliberately taught respect, responsibility, and healthy relationships. Governments and families must invest in raising boys to understand what it means to be responsible men and partners”, he said, adding that awareness campaigns and value-based education should target both genders.
The Deputy Governor also noted that Lagos has made remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality through sustained investments in maternal and child healthcare, revealing that the State currently operates 11 Maternal and Child Centres strategically located across Lagos to provide quality healthcare for mothers and children.
While commending the book presented at the event, Hamzat described it as a practical contribution to the national conversation on gender-based violence and social protection, "The book is fantastic. From the review, it is clear that it was written by someone with practical experience who understands the realities of abuse and social protection. It offers useful insights into the issues affecting our society and how we can address them. I look forward to reading it," he added.
In her address, the author, the Deputy Governor candidate of the All Progressive Congress Party, APC, Hon. Princess Damilola Sonayon James, revealed that the book was inspired by years of community engagement, research, and documentation of social challenges affecting individuals, families, and communities, noting that extensive work within communities exposed numerous social issues and prompted a deeper search for practical solutions.
According to the author, the process generated significant evidence, insights, and experiences that needed to be preserved and shared for the benefit of others. "When I went into the community, I began to identify so many problems and issues. As I researched solutions, I realised that I had gathered a great deal of evidence. It became important to document these findings so that the knowledge and experiences would not be lost and so that others could learn from them without having to go through the same struggles," the author said.
She expressed hope that the publication would catalyse dialogue, learning, and action, inspiring individuals, organisations, and policymakers to work collectively towards building stronger families, more resilient communities, and a better society.
Also, in her review of the book, Dr. Joy Oniyinyech Chionuma, a Lecturer, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LASU, said the book highlights the challenges confronting the girl child, including limited access to education, maternal and child mortality, harmful cultural practices, and other societal barriers.
She therefore called on the government and policymakers to enforce child protection laws and intensify advocacy for the protection of the girl child, bemoaning that the statistics on gender-based violence are alarming. She noted that one in three women in Nigeria experiences some form of gender-based violence.
Similarly, in his review. Mr. Dayo Adu, Managing Partner and founder of Moroom Africa, urgently called for reforms to ensure that educational opportunities translate into meaningful employment for Nigerian youths, stressing that investing in education without creating corresponding job opportunities undermines national development.
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