WARDC

What do you see as your achievements during the years of the project?

• FORD Foundation, WARDC and Greenspring Development Initiative has become a household name known by Makoko, Ilaje Otumara and Oko-Oba communities as organisations engaging to curb all forms of violence, especially, against women and girls within the communities.
• There is an increased awareness and acceptance in the communities that Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a crime.
• There is knowledge of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2015
• Distribution of about 1,250 Simplified copies of the VAPP Law.
• The establishment of the Community Response Teams (CRTs) in the three communities. The goals, aims and objectives of the CRT has been beneficial to the community.
• Acquision of skills, knowledge, reportage of cases regarding GBV within the communities
• Exposure of the CRTs to trainings, seminars and workshops
• Dismissal of Inspector, Samuel Ukpabio, due to referral by Makoko CRT to WARDC. The issue was escalated by WARDC in December 2022 of the ordeal of a mother of three, Fortune Obhafuoso, in the hands of the Police Inspector, Samuel Ukpabio, whom she accused of forcefully taking her newborn, Joseph, and conciliating her with N185,000.00.  The case will be charged to court.

What is your major success by your perception?

1. Stenghtened relationship between FORD Foundation, WARDC and Greenspring Development Initiative in ending Violence Against Women and Girls
2. Strengthened and mobilised internal stakeholders, comprising of Religious and Traditional Leaders, Women Chiefs (Iyalodes) Market Women (Iyaloja) Security Agencies, Young Girls etc to curb violence against women and girls.

What are your learning and lessons?

1. The gap in the awareness and knowledge of the existence of the VAPP Law prior to our entry into the community in 2022. Lack of knowledge about the law prohibits its implementation. Awareness of the Law increases its implementation.
2. The infringement of rights and violence against women and girls. GBV Survivors are enlightened on their rights and reportage of cases of abuse and are more conscious of their rights.

What is your future plan to sustain this project?

• Motivation of the Community Response Teams (CRT), Council of Iyaloja and Iyalode to be sustainable by exposing them to more trainings, seminars and workshops via continuous engagement, exposure and learning.
• Commission and decorate some Traditional and Religious Leaders as well some members of the Council of Iyalode and Iyaloja as Advocates to end GBV at the community, State and National levels.

EVIDENCE OF NEWSPAPER REPORT

CASE OF BABY JOSEPH AND DISMISSAL OF INSPECTOR SAMUEL UKPABIO
Regarding the case of Baby Joseph, the newspaper link to the dismissal of Inspector, Samuel Ukpabio.  The case was reported to Makoko Community Response Team (CRT) members working with Greenspring Development Initiaitve.  Due to CRTs reportage experience gained through WARDC trainings, the CRT referred the matter regarding a mother of three, Fortune Obhafuoso, in the hands of the Police Inspector, Samuel Ukpabio, whom she accused of forcefully taking her newborn, Joseph.  The case has been charged to court.

 https://punchng.com/how-lagos-policeman-ministry-paid-n185000-for-newborn-mother-demands-baby/

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/police-dismiss-officer-for-alleged-baby-theft/