Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has restated the state’s commitment to expanding social protection and stamping out gender-based violence. Speaking at the launch of “Who is she”, a book on girl child protection authored by APC 2027 Deputy Governorship candidate Hon. Princess Damilola Sonayon James in Ikoyi, Hamzat said Lagos operates a state social protection policy with an updated register covering vulnerable groups including women, children, and persons with disabilities.
He noted that the policy is delivered through MDAs handling Women Affairs, Youth and Social Development, Wealth Creation, and domestic violence prevention. On GBV, the Deputy Governor said convictions must be made public to send a strong message that abuse will not be tolerated. He also called for deliberate efforts to raise boys on respect and responsibility, alongside continued investment in maternal healthcare through the state’s 11 Maternal and Child Centres.
Author Princess Damilola James said the book draws from years of community work documenting challenges facing families and individuals. Book reviewers, Dr. Joy Chionuma of LASUTH and Mr. Dayo Adu of Moroom Africa, urged government to enforce child protection laws and link education to jobs, citing that one in three Nigerian women experience GBV. Hamzat described the publication as a timely contribution to the conversation on social protection and gender issues.
