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Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor, has called for greater attention to the upbringing of boys as part of efforts to prevent gender-based violence, saying governments and families must deliberately raise young men to become responsible partners who respect women and value healthy relationships.
Hamzat made the call at the presentation of Who is She, a book advocating girl-child protection authored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship Candidate for the 2027 General Election, Princess Damilola Sonayon James, held at the Syrian Club Event Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday.
According to the him, while efforts to protect the girl child remain important, equal attention must be paid to raising boys with the right values to tackle the root causes of abuse.
“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 a 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.
Hamzat added that awareness campaigns and value-based education should target both boys and girls in order to build a society that rejects all forms of abuse.
He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to strengthening social protection programmes and combating gender-based violence through sustained investments, public awareness and effective enforcement of the law.
According to him, the state has developed a comprehensive social protection policy backed by a regularly updated social register of vulnerable residents to ensure that support reaches those who need it most.
“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.
He explained that the state’s social protection framework is implemented through various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), covering women’s affairs and poverty alleviation, youth and social development, wealth creation and employment, domestic violence prevention, and the welfare of children, women and persons with disabilities.
The Deputy Governor also highlighted progress in maternal and child healthcare, noting that Lagos currently operates 11 Maternal and Child Centres strategically located across the state to provide quality healthcare for mothers and children.
Commending Who is She, Hamzat described the publication 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 said.
Princess Damilola Sonayon James, the author in her remarks, said the book was inspired by years of community engagement, research and documentation of social challenges affecting individuals, families and communities.
She explained that extensive interaction with communities exposed numerous social issues and prompted a search for practical solutions.
“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,” she said.
She expressed hope that the publication would stimulate dialogue, learning and collective action towards building stronger families, more resilient communities and a better society.
Reviewing the book, Dr. Joy Oniyinyech Chionuma, a lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said it highlights challenges confronting the girl child, including limited access to education, maternal and child mortality, harmful cultural practices and other societal barriers.
She urged government and policymakers to enforce child protection laws and intensify advocacy for the protection of the girl child, noting that one in three women in Nigeria experiences some form of gender-based violence.
Also reviewing the publication, Managing Partner and Founder of Moroom Africa, Dayo Adu, called for reforms that would ensure educational opportunities translate into meaningful employment for Nigerian youths, saying investment in education without corresponding job opportunities undermines national development.
