The participants of the rally visited the Faculty of Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and the Ibaka Market, Akungba Akoko Local Government Area, Ondo State.
““All in all, it was a great success,” said Praise Ayo-Oladapo, founder of the Stand, Speak, Act Advocacy Network, launched in May.
Gender-based violence and other problems are not only widespread in Nigeria, they are also increasing at an alarming rate, Ayo-Oladapo reported.
“Our goal is to have an impact across the country and eventually expand it globally,” she said, adding that the inspiration to create the Stand, Speak, Act Advocacy Network came during the 2023 meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee in Geneva.
“There I became very aware of the global fight against violence and rape, especially through the Thursdays in Black movement, which advocates for a world without violence,” says Ayo-Oladapo, who works as a youth adviser for the WCC. “The insights I gained from this meeting inspired me to contribute to this cause in my own country, Nigeria.”
The Stand, Speak, Act Advocacy Network has a close relationship with the WCC and the Thursdays in Black movement, Ayo-Oladapo said.
The network‘The next project is outreach programs in secondary schools throughout southwest Nigeria. “The aim of these initiatives is to educate young people and give them the strength to defend themselves against violence and abuse,” she explained. “We are also organising a lobby visit to policy makers, including parliamentarians, opinion leaders and government officials who play a key role.”