The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, to forge strategic partnerships that will strengthen public awareness and policy implementation on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
The organization made the appeal during a one-day roundtable in Awka, which brought together grassroots women leaders, civil society organizations, religious representatives, and health advocates to discuss solutions to violence against women and girls, harmful practices, and limited access to reproductive health services. The dialogue was convened by WARDC in collaboration with the Centre for Reproductive Rights and the Government of Canada.
WARDC’s founding director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, who joined the meeting virtually, urged the Soludo administration, traditional rulers, and community leaders to take an uncompromising stance against rape and gender-based violence. She noted that the trauma of sexual assault often results in unwanted pregnancies and other health risks, and called for community-imposed sanctions to deter offenders, particularly at the grassroots level.
“To make lasting progress, we need a coordinated response that brings government, civil society, and the private sector to the same table,” she said. “The state must demonstrate zero tolerance for these violations.”
Head of Programmes at WARDC, Mrs. Emmanuela Azu, said the absence of accurate information on SRHR continues to create serious social and health challenges in Nigeria. She explained that the project in Anambra is part of a broader initiative also being implemented in Osun, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, and Akwa Ibom States, with the aim of assessing service availability, reviewing policy gaps, and shaping public attitudes toward reproductive health.
According to her, SRHR covers a wide range of issues from access to safe health services to informed sexual choices and cannot be effectively addressed if conversations around it remain taboo.
“Abstinence is one approach, but it becomes counterproductive when it is the only message given to young people who are already sexually active. They need to understand the reasons behind it, alongside other informed options.” Azu said.
She commended the Anambra State Government for adopting the “STOP Guidelines” a legal framework protecting women’s reproductive rights, particularly in cases of forced pregnancy, while reducing unsafe abortion rates in states where it has been applied. The guidelines, she noted, will be promoted in partnership with newly inaugurated supervisory committees and local government health officers to ensure that accurate SRHR information reaches women, girls, and men across the state.
Speaking on behalf of other participating CSOs, Prince Chris Azor emphasised the importance of involving men in the sensitisation drive, stating that “the responsibility of pregnancy should not rest on women alone.” He also urged the state to prioritise equipping rural healthcare facilities.
The session was moderated by Prof. Ifeanyichukwu Ezebialu, Coordinator of the Anambra State Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON).
