Access Bank Plc in its support for women through the collaboration of Access Women Network has partnered with Genesis House to organise the 4th edition of the annual ‘Orange Lecture’ holding today in Lagos.
The collaboration is to support vulnerable women who have been sexually exploited with a focus to mentor them, as well as equip them with life and vocational skills to become self-reliant and productive citizens. The event is focused on tackling violence against women which has been a problem to people from various regions, countries, societies and cultures, and affecting women irrespective of income, class, race or ethnicity.
This year’s lecture themed: ‘Hear Me Too’ has been chosen to lend a voice to the cry for help from the female gender, who have been involved in one form of violence or the other. It would also focus on the elimination of socio-cultural factors that give credence to any form of violence in Nigeria.
Speaking on the collaboration with Genesis House, Ada Udechukwu, head, Women Banking at Access Bank Plc. said, “Access Bank, in addition to supporting female- owned businesses, is also very interested in the total well-being of women. Violence against women and girls is a phenomenon without national borders, and a violation of human rights that has far-reaching negative consequences on its victims.
“From statistics and cases reported, the female gender is always exposed to all sorts of gender based violence irrespective of education, social status, location and sadly too, age. It has therefore become increasingly essential that help is given to victims and adequate sensitization is done to prevent and end gender-based violence.”
WARIF (Women at Risk International Foundation) would also be partnering to teach participants on best practices in Nigeria and beyond to prevent and end violence against women.
Also to be discussed at the Orange Lecture would be ways to strengthen national policies in line with international standards. This would ensure that survivors receive quality healthcare, legal and social services, and transform social norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls.
