By Isaac Afolabi
It was a gathering of sports administrators,footballers,top government officials and other stakeholders as Sunshine Queens Football Club of Akure, declared their support in waging war against gender-based violence in the state and country at large.
The noble effort is one of the project of Her Excellency the Wife of the Ondo state governor Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu
The Foundation is known as the Betty -Anyanwu Foundation (BAF).
The historic event took place at the governors lodged Alagbaka Akure.
Addressing the colorful dressed footballers and other guest, Coordinator of BAF, Mr Austin Otabor, said that the foundation’s partnership with Sunshine Queens would help in preaching the message against all forms of violence against women.
Mr Otabor who lamented the spate of violence against girls said the foundation was set to lunch a yellow card dressed with messages and phone number to all girls in public and private schools in the state to guide them against any form of violence.
On his part a director of child services in the Ondo state ministry of women affairs Mr Dare Ogunleye said the high rate of abuse against women is alarming and believed sunshine queens players would help in encouraging young girls and serve as role model to others who might have been victim of abuse.
Mr Ogunleye while addressing the players and everyone seated said no reason is good enough for any woman to be abused saying his ministry had made series of arrest and detention of rapist some of which he said are in the correctional center Olokuta Akure.
A football administrator and the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in Ondo state Mr Dotun Owanikin assured his administration support in driving the project into the heart of the people.
Also, A national female team handler and the Head Coach of Sunshine Queens, Mrs Wemimo Mattews,while commending the move appealed to BAF to collaborate with other sports sectors aside football in order to spread the message fast and achieve greater results.
Some of those who graced the occasion included,a former national male team footballer and the acting chairman Ondo state football agency Mr Tunde Ogunja,General manager Ondo state sports council Mr Henry Babtunde among others.
