The wife of the Ekiti State governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has urged residents to break the culture of silence surrounding human trafficking, femicide, and gender-based violence (GBV).
Oyebanji made the call in Ado-Ekiti during a summit on Human Trafficking, Femicide and Gender-Based Violence, organised by Restoration for All (REA) Inc., a non-governmental organisation.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, the Governor's Wife said parents, teachers, community leaders, and religious leaders must be empowered to recognise the warning signs of abuse and trafficking.
The summit themed "From Silence to Safety: Uniting Ekiti Against Human Trafficking, Femicide and Gender-Based Violence," brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, professional bodies, security agencies, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address, titled "Breaking the Silence, Building Safe Communities: Protecting Women, Girls and Families from Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence," Oyebanji described the theme as a call to conscience and action.
She said many women and girls suffered physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse in silence, while others were deceived with promises of employment, education, travel, or a better life — only to become victims of exploitation and trafficking. Fear, stigma, shame, economic dependence, and threats, she said, often prevent survivors from speaking out.
However, Oyebanji stressed that breaking the silence must not expose survivors to further danger.
"Breaking the silence means creating an environment where survivors can speak without fear, where their dignity is protected, and where they can access justice, healthcare, psychosocial support, shelter, and other essential services," she said.
She added that breaking the silence also meant teaching children that violence is never an expression of love or discipline. "Most importantly, breaking the silence means holding perpetrators accountable," she said.
Describing human trafficking as a grievous violation of human dignity, Oyebanji said the crime often thrives on poverty, ignorance, and desperation, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, and other forms of abuse.
She urged families and communities to remain vigilant about seemingly attractive offers of employment, travel, education, or assistance. "Families must ask questions. Communities must pay attention. Institutions must strengthen prevention and referral systems. Our young people must understand that a promise of a better life should never require surrendering their freedom, dignity or safety," she said.
Prevention, she said, begins with information; protection begins with vigilance and justice — achieved only when people refuse to look away. She called for collective responsibility in building safe communities where women and girls can live freely, children can grow without fear, families can thrive, and survivors can seek help without blame or stigma.
The Governor's wife urged stakeholders to strengthen laws, policies, institutions, and services for prevention, protection, prosecution, and rehabilitation, and to ensure survivors receive timely, sensitive, and dignified justice while challenging the harmful practices and attitudes that enable violence and exploitation.
Oyebanji commended the founder and executive director of REA Inc., Dr Tolulope Ola, and other collaborating partners for their commitment to the wellbeing of women and girls in Ekiti. She reaffirmed the commitment of the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration to working with stakeholders to build an Ekiti where no woman or girl is trafficked, abused, or silenced.
The summit ended with a resolution to strengthen community watch structures and establish more effective referral pathways across the state — reinforcing the collective resolve to move from silence to safety, and from awareness to action.
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