The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs has introduced the Compulsory Effective Pre-marital Preparatory Counseling for intending couples.
The three-day intensive interactive training workshop which was held between the 22nd- 24th of August, 2022 at Ostra Halls & Hotels, Ikeja, were facilitated by Personal and Family Life Experts; Mr. Praise Fowowe, Founder of The Institute of Family Engineering & Development Africa, Mr. Oladele Emmanuel Temilade, The Founder, Institute of Marriage Counselors of Nigeria and Dr. Tolu Oko-Ighaire, Provost, Institute of Counselling of Nigeria Relationship Expert.
In attendance were a total of sixty-two Marriage Officials drawn from all twenty Local Government/LCDA’s in Lagos State.
Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs Mrs. Kikelomo Sanyaolu who was ably represented by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adeniji, applauded the Agency for the brilliant move. She said that the initiative is timely, having observed the increasing cases of domestic violence in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. Conclusively, she pledged her continuous support for the Agency, in upholding the initiative.
In her Welcome Address, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual violence Agency, Mrs. Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi disclosed that recent statistics from the Agency shows that at least 80% of clients that report matrimonial abuses had pre-existing knowledge of their partner’s anomalous behaviour but proceeded with the union ignoring red flags.
The topics discussed were carefully selected from the developed eight-weeks intensive Pre-marital Effectiveness Counselling curriculum, to enhance the knowledge of marriage officials and to equip them to effectively administer pre-marital counselling to intending couples, which will help intending couples take an informed decision before saying ‘ I DO’.
Mr. Praise Fowowe, a Family Engineer, enlightened the participants on Gender and Sex Roles, the concept of marriage and understanding love and love codes. He gave the true definition of marriage as the coming together of a man and a woman from two different nations (families) to create a new nation (family) that will promote the best interest of all and whose culture will give our world rest.
Mr. Oladele Emmanuel Temilade enlightened the participants on concepts that promote marital wellness, statutory Roles, Behavioural and Administrative Roles of marriage registrars, whilst Dr. Tolu Oko-Ighaire enlightened the participants on Counselling and Best Practices for Counselling.
The Lagos State Government remains committed in ensuring holistic response is issued in assistance to matters of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
