Imo Women affairs ministry hosts high level GBV training

DDM NEWS

The Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Reduction, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has organized a two-day high-level capacity-building training on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response.

The training, which began on July 1, 2024, in Owerri, aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of stakeholders in addressing GBV in Imo State.

The training seeks to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders, to prevent and respond to GBV.

The training aims to improve coordination and collaboration among stakeholders in addressing GBV, ensuring a more effective response to cases of violence.

The training will enhance the knowledge of stakeholders on the causes, consequences, and prevention of GBV, as well as the provision of support services for survivors.

The training has attracted high-level participation from government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders.

The training is being facilitated by experts in the field of GBV prevention and response.

The training includes interactive sessions, group discussions, and case studies to ensure effective learning and sharing of experiences.

The training is expected to improve the response of stakeholders to cases of GBV, ensuring that survivors receive timely and effective support.

The training will increase awareness about the causes and consequences of GBV, as well as the importance of prevention and response.

The training aims to enhance collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, ensuring a more effective response to GBV cases.

The Imo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing and responding to GBV.

The government has emphasized the importance of addressing GBV and ensuring that survivors receive the support they need.

The training is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and it is expected to have a lasting impact on the prevention and response to GBV in Imo State.

According to a report, the training which  should end on 3rd July  is  facing many allegations.

The report states: “In a strategic move to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful traditional practices across communities in Imo State, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Imo State and with support from UN Women, is conducting a Three-Day High-Level Zonal Training for President Generals of various autonomous communities.

The capacity-building workshop, holding at Rockview Hotels, Owerri, from Tuesday, July 1 to Thursday, July 3, 2025, is designed to empower community leaders with critical knowledge, advocacy tools, and engagement strategies necessary to curb GBV and harmful cultural practices at the grassroots level.

The training focuses on sensitization, practical community outreach techniques, and preventive measures tailored towards building safer and more inclusive environments for women and girls across the state.

The event was officially declared open by Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Imo State. Adding further weight to the initiative, Her Excellency, Barr. Chioma Ikeaka Uzodimma, the First Lady of Imo State, also graced the occasion.

She reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of women and girls in the state.

However, while the objectives of the training remain laudable, the program has been overshadowed by serious allegations of logistical mismanagement and sharp practices linked to the Director of Women Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Azubuike.

Credible sources revealed that the Shared Prosperity Administration, through the Office of the First Lady, had released sufficient funds to cover meals, drinks, and other welfare provisions for participants throughout the three-day event.

On the first day, the hotel management, as earlier contracted, reportedly provided well-prepared refreshments to the satisfaction of attendees.

Surprisingly, on the second day, Mrs. Azubuike allegedly bypassed the hotel arrangement and introduced food and drinks from external vendors.

This sudden deviation led to widespread dissatisfaction, with many participants lamenting the poor quality of service and raising serious questions about the Director’s intentions and the integrity of her office.

This latest controversy is seen as a continuation of previous allegations of financial misappropriation and fund diversion against Mrs. Azubuike, particularly regarding welfare funds earmarked for similar state programs.

The unfolding scandal appears to be deepening the existing climate of mistrust surrounding her leadership within the Ministry.

As the training concludes on Thursday, July 3, 2025, participants leave with enhanced knowledge on gender advocacy—but also with bitter memories of administrative lapses and concerns over accountability and transparency in the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs.

Speaking under anonymity, several aggrieved President Generals from across the 27 LGAs of Imo State expressed their frustration during an intervie.

They condemned the alleged disrespectful and degrading treatment they received from Mrs. Azubuike, accusing her of insults, humiliation, and deliberate neglect, including starvation during the training period’, the report concluded.