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The Osun State Government has lauded the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Value Female Network (VFN) Africa, for equipping the State Succour Centre with modern medical equipment and other dignity kits.
The governor of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, expressed the gratitude on Thursday following the intervention by the organizations.
Adeleke said the efforts at tackling sexual and gender based violence and ensuring that survivors of abuse receive necessary medical care and psycho-social support at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), now known as Succour Centre is a noble course that is worth supporting and hailing.
The donated equipment included essential supplies, dignity kits, medical items, and ICT tools which UNICEF noted would strengthen care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the state.
Handing-over the items at a High Level Partnership Engagement programme at Governor’s Office in Osogbo on Thursday, UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Mona Aika, in her goodwill message, stressed that the support goes beyond the provision of supplies.
She noted that the Succour Centre is a vital link in strengthening Osun State’s child protection system, bringing health, justice, welfare, and security actors together under one roof. She emphasised that the Centre cannot operate in isolation, but must remain firmly connected to broader child protection structures to ensure survivors of sexual and gender-based violence receive timely, coordinated, and good-quality care.
In her keynote address, the Executive Director of VFN Africa, Dr. Costly Aderibigbe-Saba, revealed that the intervention would bring relief for survivors and galvanise a multi-sectoral care for survivors of sexual violence.
Aderibigbe-Saba, who herself is a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation, added that with UNICEF’s support, the Centre has been renovated, equipped, and linked to Primero CPIMS, while first responders are being trained across the state.
Aderibigbe-Saba, who said the organisation has been at the forefront of protecting women and children through various initiatives, urged stakeholders to come together and ensure a violence-free state.
She commended officials of government in the line Ministries who have joined forces and initiatives with her organization in addressing issues of sexual exploitation and other forms of violence against women and children in the state.
According to her, “The Value Female Network (VFN) family—our program staff, technical team, board, and volunteers—deserve special mention. VFN has been at the forefront of protecting women and children through initiatives such as the Adolescent Boot Camp, Boys Promote Equality, Positive Parenting Program, Safe Spaces for Girls in Schools, Survivors’ Network strengthening, and community sensitization campaigns. It was also VFN Africa that independently constructed the disability ramp here at the Succour Center, ensuring accessibility for all survivors.”
While specially appreciating UNICEF, Mrs Aderibigbe-Saba, stated, “Our heartfelt gratitude goes to UNICEF, our donor and technical partner. Beyond funding, UNICEF has supervised and guided this work from start to finish. Through UNICEF’s support via VFN, this facility has undergone renovation (including plumbing, generator repairs, electrical works, and painting), procurement of equipment, capacity building for first responders, and strengthening of state monitoring and evaluation systems through the Child Protection Information Management System (Primero CPIMS). We hope to continue enjoying this vital partnership.
But beyond the structures and systems, let us not forget why we are here. Behind every statistic is a story of pain, resilience, and hope.”
Representing the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, the Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola, commended UNICEF and VFN, highlighting government’s strong ownership.
He said the Centre space was provided by the Ministry of Health within a state hospital ensuring easy referrals, laboratory tests, and medical care.
The governor added that the Ministries of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Health, and Justice have also deployed social workers, nurses, police officers, and legal staff to ensure survivors receive timely, multi-sectoral services
Also present were the commissioner for Women, Children and Social Welfare; Hon. Ayobola Fadeyi Awolowo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Oluwole-Jimi Bada, SAN, Chairman House Committee on Youths. Sports and Special Needs: Hon. Abiola Jeremiah Awoyeye, Permanent Secretaries, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Hon. Mrs Sekinat Temilade, Executive Secretaries of Agencies, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Civil Defence Corps, Religious Leaders among many other relevant stakeholders.
Together, they pledged stronger collaboration to end violence and harmful practices, and to build a Safer Osun where every survivor finds justice, healing, and protection.
“One vision, one commitment: a safer Osun, where every child is free from violence and no survivor is left behind,” Aderibigbe-Saba noted.
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