The European Union has adopted Oyo State's proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to end school-related Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state's 33 local government areas. This initiative is supported by the European Union-funded Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria (ESGBV) Programme and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP).
A Stakeholder Validation Workshop on the Draft Oyo State SOP for the Prosecution of Perpetrators of School-Related Gender-Based Violence was held in Ibadan, the state capital. The Head of the SGBV Response Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to tackling school-related gender-based violence across the country. The ministry will continue to support the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), the Child Rights Act, and other relevant legislation.
Gbola-Awopetu stated that the Ministry would work closely with state governments to promote the domestication of relevant laws and coordinate the implementation of the SOP on school-related gender-based violence. Effective collaboration between federal and state institutions is necessary to strengthen legal protection, improve responses to reported cases, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable in accordance with the law.
The Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, reaffirmed the state government's commitment to implementing the SOP. Aikomo, represented by the ministry's SGBV Coordinator, Barrister Kashifa Oloso-Olayinwola, pledged that the Ministry of Justice would work tirelessly to ensure the effective implementation of the SOP. He commended International IDEA, the European Union, civil society organisations, and technical teams for their dedication and contributions to the process.
In his keynote address, Aikomo said school-related gender-based violence remained a serious concern due to its implications for children's safety, dignity, educational development, and fundamental rights. Addressing the problem requires more than the existence of laws and policies; it needs effective implementation, clear institutional responsibilities, timely reporting, appropriate investigation, and competent prosecution.
Melissa Omene, GBV Policy and Strategy Development Specialist and Component 1 Manager of the ESGBV Programme, said the initiative was part of broader efforts to strengthen the legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for preventing and responding to violence against women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. She stressed that schools should be safe environments where children can learn, grow, and realise their full potential.
According to Omene, one in four girls in Nigeria experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, and school-related violence could undermine children's rights and wellbeing, disrupt school attendance and academic performance, and limit their future opportunities. The proposed SOP aims to clarify the responsibilities of institutions involved in receiving complaints, making referrals, investigating allegations, and supporting affected learners throughout the justice process.
Key points
- The European Union adopts Oyo State's proposed SOP to end school-related SGBV cases.
- The initiative aims to strengthen the legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for preventing and responding to violence against women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
- Effective implementation of the SOP requires clear institutional responsibilities, timely reporting, and competent prosecution.
