Healthy Life Development Initiative (HELDi) led by Mfon Utin as Coordinator has arrived Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council Area (ONELGA) to begin campaign against sexual and gender-based violence, now a growing affliction in rural areas.
The menace is said to be eating deeper into the rural areas of Rivers State.
A major incident confronting the Response Team is said to be the case of a three-year-old girl allegedly raped by a 19-year-old boy. The Secretary of the ONELGA Traditional Rulers Council reported the matter to the team.
The case is now being handled by a member of the response team, who is said to be supporting the survivor and the family, and initiated the reporting process, which is still ongoing.
A report from the zone showed that the setting up which took place on April 1, 2025, took place at Nde – Oma Obakata Cooperative Hall, Omoku Town. Response Team is for volunteers who train on how to identify and report gender-based violent actions.
According to the report made available to newsmen, the ONELGA SGBV Response Team engagement brought together relevant stakeholders from all the clans in local council area.
Read also: Market women in rural Rivers train against sexual and gender-based attacks
Participants included traditional leaders, adolescents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), representatives from the health sector, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), OSPAC (local security), youth, men, and women. These individuals constituted the members of the newly formed SGBV response team. The meeting also had in attendance the Secretary to the ONELGA Traditional Rulers Council and the HELDi team led by Utin.
Utin delivered the keynote address where she emphasized the alarming rates of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the area.
She highlighted the relevance of existing policies, especially the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law domesticated in Rivers State in 2020, and its provision for the establishment of response teams. She acknowledged the support and commitment of the traditional rulers council of ONELGA and other stakeholders.
Utin further stressed the importance of the response teams selected from across the clans, tasked with supporting survivors, reporting cases, and gathering data to reduce the increasing rate of SGBV.
She reassured them that HELDi would provide capacity-building training to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Emenuwa A.C, a high chief, who is secretary to the ONELGA Traditional Rulers Council, represented the traditional rulers and delivered a speech on their behalf.
He expressed their full support and commitment to the initiative and assured the team that they were not alone in the fight against SGBV.
He informed the attendees that the initiative had the awareness and backing of relevant stakeholders in ONELGA, including the past Commissioner for Health.
The HELDi Coordinator presented the VAPP Law, which was domesticated in Rivers State in 2020, to the high chief and to the ONELGA SGBV Coordinator for review. This was done to enable them to become well-informed and knowledgeable about the provisions of the Law.
He officially inaugurated the selected members of the response team.
Other participants also gave their remarks. Anthony Oganuzor, a monarch, expressed joy that such an initiative had finally reached their community, and emphasized its timeliness in sanitizing their environment.
Enyiche Judith, a representative from the health sector, acknowledged the significance of the response team, noting its absence in the past and the need to address SGBV effectively. She emphasized the importance of neutrality in handling cases, noting that men are also sometimes victims of abuse.
Precious Ibegwura, Civil society organisations (CSOs) representative, highlighted the rampant cases of abuse against women in the community and called for collective efforts to support the initiative. Okwu Justina from NCWS reiterated the need to see the work as voluntary service and encouraged the team to remain committed, regardless of external recognition.
Representatives from CAN, Ekeke Franklyn, and OSPAC, Richard Dan – Ucha also pledged their support and commitment, promising to provide their services to ensure the success of the initiative.
In conclusion, Uche Nwokocha, the ONELGA SGBV Response Team Leader, appreciated the team members for their commitment and expressed his support. He noted that once key stakeholders and officials resume duty in the LGA, the team will pay them an official visit to keep them informed of ongoing activities.
The HELDi Coordinator thanked ‘Rise Up’ for their support, the secretary of the Traditional Rulers Council, and all response team members.
She encouraged them to support survivors and ensure timely reporting of cases. She assured them that HELDi would keep them informed of upcoming activities leading to the official launch of the team in the state.
