Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has empowered 104 high-risk survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence under its business grant programme.
Delivering a keynote address at the event held recently in Ikeja, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey encouraged the beneficiaries to be crusaders for positive societal impacts while ensuring growth in their various businesses.
Shitta-Bey, represented by the Director of Citizens Rights, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Adetutu Oshinusi, said that training the beneficiaries would further motivate other survivors to speak out and receive the needed assistance that the agency and its partners could offer in the quest to tackle incidents of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the state.
She added that the empowerment programme was therefore conceived to serve as a pathway to new beginnings for survivors and also rebuild their self-esteem on their road to healing.
In her address, the Executive Secretary of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, reiterated that the programme was another laudable initiative of the State Government, which has taken practical steps to provide a support system for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the State.
She stressed that statistics have proven that one of the major reasons why survivors remain in abusive relationships is because of financial dependence on their abuser. This, therefore, makes the provision of financial support most compelling.
Vivour-Adeniyi said the programme, organised in partnership with SME 100 Africa, was aimed at empowering domestic violence survivors to be economically viable and contribute financially to the development of their homes and the state at large.
Whilst appreciating Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his resolve in ensuring survivors access holistic support, the Executive Secretary informed the participants that the SME 100 Africa will engage the beneficiaries in a four-week intensive course on how to set up and manage a business.
“The training wi/ll focus on the development of micro, small and medium enterprises. It aimed to support business growth development in startups as well as expanding businesses which will avail the beneficiaries the skills to sustain a business and reduce the rate of unemployment in the State and violence in homes,” she said.
“By having survivors go through this training, and thereafter receive financial support for their businesses is one of the ways we at the DSVA are ensuring survivors get the much needed support on their journey to healing.”
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