Alliances for Africa (AfA) warmly welcomes the commitment made by the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma, to support anti-Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaigns and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women and girls across Imo State.

The Governor’s public pledge, made on 1 July 2026, sends a strong message that the protection of women and girls remains a priority for the Imo State Government. We commend this commitment and recognise it as an important step toward building a safer, more inclusive, and more just society.

For many years, Alliances for Africa (AfA) has worked alongside communities, institutions, traditional leaders, young people, and government stakeholders to advance the rights of women and girls in Imo State. Through our programmes, we have supported survivors, strengthened institutional responses, promoted accountability, and challenged harmful social norms that enable violence.

Our programmes address some of the most pressing issues affecting women and girls in Imo State, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and sexual harassment in tertiary institutions. These issues continue to undermine the safety, dignity, education, health, and economic opportunities of thousands of women and girls.

While we applaud Governor Uzodinma’s commitment, meaningful progress will depend on translating this pledge into concrete institutional action. Public commitments are most powerful when supported by effective laws, functioning institutions, and adequate resources.

To this end, Alliances for Africa respectfully calls on the Governor to immediately operationalise the Imo State Agency for the Prohibition of Violence Against Persons, as provided for under Part V (Regulatory Body), Section 55 of the Imo State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law.

The establishment of the Agency is critical because it is mandated by law to:

• Coordinate the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
• Provide protection, support, and referral services for survivors of violence.
• Monitor compliance with the provisions of the Law.
• Investigate violations and facilitate the prosecution of offenders through its Legal Unit, subject to the constitutional powers of the Attorney-General.
• Coordinate collaboration among government ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to prevent and respond effectively to violence.

Operationalising this Agency would demonstrate the State Government’s commitment to moving beyond policy declarations toward measurable action that protects women, girls, children, and other vulnerable persons.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the First Lady of Imo State, HerExcellency Barrister Chioma Uzodinma, for her steadfast advocacy for the welfare, empowerment, and protection of women and girls. Her continued leadership in challenging harmful practices and promoting the rights of women has significantly advanced conversations around gender equality and social justice in Imo State.

Alliances for Africa remains committed to working collaboratively with the Imo State Government, relevant institutions, development partners, and civil society organisations to strengthen systems that prevent violence, protect survivors, and ensure justice.

This is a unique opportunity for the State to match commitment with implementation. Establishing the Imo State Agency for the Prohibition of Violence Against Persons will be a defining step towards making Imo State safer for every woman and girl.

Alliances for Africa (AfA) is a human rights, peace, and sustainable development organisation dedicated to advancing gender equality, protecting human rights, and promoting social justice through strategic partnerships and community-led action. AfA works to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent women, girls, and marginalised groups from achieving full equality.

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