By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening social protection programmes and combating gender-based violence through sustained investment, public awareness, and strict enforcement of existing laws.
Hamzat made the pledge at the presentation of Who Is She, a book advocating for the protection of the girl child, authored by Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election. The event was held at the Syrian Club Event Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The deputy governor said Lagos has developed a comprehensive social protection policy supported by a regularly updated social register of vulnerable residents, including children, women, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups.
“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,” he said.
Hamzat explained that the state’s social protection framework is implemented through various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), covering women’s affairs, poverty alleviation, youth development, employment, domestic violence prevention, and the welfare of vulnerable groups.
On gender-based violence, he stressed the need to ensure offenders are prosecuted and that successful convictions are publicised to reinforce that abuse is a criminal offence.
“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,” he said.
The deputy governor also called for greater attention to the upbringing of boys, urging governments and families to teach young males respect, responsibility, and healthy relationships alongside efforts to protect girls.
Hamzat further disclosed that Lagos has recorded significant progress in reducing maternal mortality through sustained investment in maternal and child healthcare, noting that the state now operates 11 Maternal and Child Centres across Lagos.
He commended Who Is She, describing it as a valuable contribution to the national conversation on gender-based violence and social protection.
“The book is fantastic. It offers practical insights into the realities of abuse and social protection, and I look forward to reading it,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Sonayon-James said the book was inspired by years of community engagement, research, and documentation of social challenges affecting families and communities.
She explained that her interactions within communities exposed numerous societal problems, prompting her to document findings and practical solutions that could benefit others.
“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 others could learn from them,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the publication would encourage dialogue, inspire action, and support efforts to build stronger families and safer communities.
Reviewing the book, Dr. Joy Oniyinyech Chionuma of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology highlighted issues affecting the girl child, including limited access to education, maternal and child mortality, harmful cultural practices, and gender-based violence.
She called on governments to strengthen enforcement of child protection laws, noting that one in three women in Nigeria experiences some form of gender-based violence.
Also speaking, Managing Partner of Moroom Africa, Mr. Dayo Adu, urged policymakers to align educational investments with job creation, warning that expanding access to education without corresponding employment opportunities would undermine national development.
