Development consultant launches books to address gender based violence

Towards addressing sexual and gender based violence, a Development Consultant, Gender expert and Monitoring/Evaluation Specialist, Dr. Joyce Otive-Igbuzor, launched two books ‘Trophy Husband and the Travails of Omotejomo’, that resonates experiences of sexual and gender based violence, complexities and resilience of women in patriarchal societies and their transformative journeys while healing.

Author of the books, Dr Otive-Igbuzor, said issues of sexual and domestic abuse has long been swept under the carpet and the stigma suffered by the victims has also led to it been condoned by society.

In her words: “The books were written to achieve some purposes; first of all, to break the silence around sexuality. That silence has driven many women and girls to their graves; even boys. The problem is that boys get abused, but they don’t complain because they are ashamed because the society expects men to be strong and so when a man is facing Gender Based Violence, he tends to hide it and many have died silently. For me, it is a calling to correct something that has been going on for a very long time.”

Former Director, Political Parties Monitoring and Liaison Office, Dr Regina Omo-Agege, who also chaired the book launch, said Literature has the power to transcend boundaries, to bridge gaps and to ignite the flames of imagination.

Dr Omo-Agege said the stories are stark reminders of the social injustices that persist in our society and the urgent need for change.

Former Permanent Secretary with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agary and the African Director, McArthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, also eulogized the author of the book for her sacrifice towards touching the lives of girls and women all around the world.

Dr Timi Agary praised the books for their factual and global impact.

“Not only in Nigeria, this gender thing, sexual harassment and all these patriarchy, you also find it abroad,” Dr Agary said.

Dr Shettima praised the author’s tenacity and thoroughness in narrating very crucial social issues and the need for government and stakeholders to empower victims and offer psychological and emotional help as a way forward.

Professor Patricia Donli, Board Chairman, Action Aid and a professor at the University of Maiduguri, who was also present at the event, said: “I was privileged to have had a look at the books; Trophy Husband and the Travails of Omotejomo, because the author sent them to me. For me, in ‘The Travails of Omotojeomo’, each of us shall find ourselves in it; because it is a journey of all of us. You find something that resonates with you. It is a journey of women, a journey of the girl child, how they pass through patriarchy; you know, the patriarchal systems that we have and some negative social norms such as Female Genital Mutilation and much more. It portrays the power of women to ensure that Omotojomo does not end up in the village. I can see myself in the book and it is a message that whatever situation we find ourselves in is surmountable through hard work, vision and a helping hand.”

On his part, the managing Director of Police Health Maintenance Limited, Doctor Yusuf Gazali, said the book will not only be beneficial to the girl child but certainly to the society at large and it will also remain as a guide in the archives in our nation.

The book presentation also featured reviews from Elsie Dennis Oghenekaro of ElsieWrite, Kammonke Abam of Profiles and Biographies and Josephine Muyiwa Afolabi from World Health Organization, amongst other professors and stakeholders who proffered several remarks and solutions on how victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence can heal.