The Olu and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, as well as other stakeholders in Yewaland had declared their support to the eradication of harmful cultural practices that hinder the growth, development and well-being of women and girls, in the society, urging stakeholders to sustain advocacy, awareness campaigns and enforcement of existing laws protecting vulnerable groups.
The monarch made the declaration through his representative, Chief Ayorinde Dawotola, the Otunba Agoro of Ilaro and Secretary to the Olu of Ilaro Council, during a town hall meeting on the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) held in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The programme, themed “Partnership for Enhanced VAWG Prevention Among Religious and Traditional Stakeholders in Ogun State,” was organised by the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) with support from the Ford Foundation and attracted traditional rulers, religious leaders, Community Development Association representatives, women groups, youths, artisans, persons living with disabilities, civil society organisations and security agencies.
Speaking with newsmen, the monarch described the campaign against violence and discrimination against women and girls as a continuous struggle, noting that some long-standing cultural practices have denied women equal opportunities and restricted their participation in various aspects of society.
“This is one of several programmes of this nature that have been held in recent times, both in Abeokuta and Ilaro. The focus has been on preventing violence against women and children, particularly the girl child, and addressing cultural practices that hinder women's development and, in some cases, are harmful to their growth and well-being,” he said.
According to him, while culture remains an integral part of society, practices that undermine human dignity and development must be reviewed and discarded.
“Culture is dynamic; it evolves with time. We cannot continue with practices that are harmful to our collective interests. Our women have gone through a lot because some traditions have placed barriers before them and prevented them from achieving their full potential,” he added.
The traditional leader commended the efforts of government and development partners in promoting the rights of women and girls, noting that several laws have been enacted to address issues such as gender-based violence and female genital mutilation.
“There are sanctions for those who violate these laws, but enforcement remains critical. Nigeria has made considerable progress by putting the necessary legal frameworks in place. However, there is often reluctance to fully enforce the laws. Government must be encouraged to consistently apply the law and ensure that offenders are held accountable,” he said.
Oba Olugbenle stressed that public enlightenment and community engagement remain essential in tackling violence against women and girls, describing the town hall meeting as an important step towards changing harmful attitudes and behaviours.
“What we are doing now is only a starting point. There is always room for improvement. We must continue to educate people and create awareness because many issues still require attention,” he noted.
He also spoke on the broader debate surrounding culture and modernity, acknowledging the challenges posed by the coexistence of traditional African values and foreign influences.
According to him, while some harmful customs should be abandoned, communities must also preserve the positive aspects of their cultural heritage.
“For a long time, many Africans were made to believe that their culture had no value. Today, we are reassessing that belief. The challenge is to identify what should be retained and what should be changed. We must preserve cultural values that promote societal progress while discarding practices that are harmful to human dignity and development,” he said.
He further emphasized the role of parents in shaping the values of future generations, saying the family remains the first institution where children learn cultural and moral principles.
“Parents have a major responsibility because training begins from birth. They must guide their children and help them understand the values that are beneficial to society,” he added.
On her part, CEWHIN Senior Programme Officer, Julian Afachung, said the initiative was designed to strengthen collaboration among traditional and religious leaders in preventing violence against women and girls across communities in Ogun State.
She noted that community leaders occupy strategic positions in influencing attitudes and behaviours and therefore have a critical role to play in challenging harmful norms, promoting gender equality and supporting efforts aimed at protecting women and girls from abuse and discrimination.
Participants at the meeting called for sustained advocacy, stronger community-based interventions and effective implementation of existing laws to address gender-based violence and other harmful practices, stressing that collective action remains key to building a safer and more inclusive society.