Olu of Ilaro rallies men on peace, protection of women, girls
By Zainab Olufemi The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has called on men to take greater responsibility in promoting peace, protecting women and girls,
By Zainab Olufemi
The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has called on men to take greater responsibility in promoting peace, protecting women and girls, and strengthening family values.
The monarch made the call at the 5th Men-Only Town hall meeting held at his palace in Ilaro, with the theme, “Strengthening Family and Community Bonds.”
Organised by Women Radio WFM 91.7 in collaboration with the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, the meeting aimed at redefining the role of men in safeguarding women and girls and building more inclusive communities.
Speaking at the event, the royal father said true leadership must be reflected in patience, discipline and respect for women and children.
He noted that the well-being of any society is closely tied to how women and girls are treated.
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“Our culture places great responsibility on men as leaders of families and custodians of our traditions. We must reject all forms of violence and injustice against women and girls. True strength lies in protecting, supporting and uplifting them,” he said.
He urged men across Yewaland to uphold cultural values that promote dignity, fairness and mutual respect within families.
According to him, the protection of women and girls is a collective duty, urging men to maintain cordial and respectful relationships with women in line with religious teachings.
Chairman of the town hall, Chief Ayorinde Dawotola, said protecting women and girls requires firm action against violence, abuse and intimidation, stressing the need for men to speak out against injustice.
He called for stronger collaboration among religious and community institutions to guide young men towards responsible conduct.
He raised concerns over rising cases of abuse, disclosing that many girls experience abuse before adulthood. He attributed the trend partly to absent father figures and warned that a lack of accountability often emboldens perpetrators.
He advocated mentorship programmes and community-driven initiatives to promote positive masculinity and responsible citizenship among young men.
He noted the collective commitment by stakeholders to sustain engagement with men and boys across Yewaland to promote peaceful homes, strengthen family systems and safeguard the rights and dignity of women and girls.
Participants also outlined key resolutions, including zero tolerance for violence against women and girls, increased parental responsibility, prompt reporting of abuse cases, and the need for security agencies to ensure diligent investigation and prosecution of offenders.
