The British Council has revealed that over 30,000 sexual abuse survivors in 20 states in Nigeria were assisted during the implementation of their programme.
In a similar vein, about 12,000 indigent citizens also received various forms of legal aid and assistance within the same period.
The Director of Programmes, Chikodi Onyemerela, stated these in Abuja on Tuesday at an event marking the Dissemination, Lesson Learning and Close-out of the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme in Nigeria.
RoLAC is a programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council.
Onyemerela stated: “Over 12,000 indigent citizens received various forms of legal aid and assistance during this period of its implementation; and over 30,000 Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors provided support through the sexual assault and referral centres.
“It is important to underscore that ROLAC provided direct funding and technical support for the operation of 39 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 20 states of the Federation and was responsible for the establishment of new ones in Anambra, Edo, FCT and Lagos.
“The programme also enabled the state level adoption of the national anti- corruption strategy, and improved state public procurement processes,”
Speaking, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi said the body was committed in supporting Nigeria’s democratic efforts.
Isopi said the support of the organisation is predicated upon its conviction that “sustainable peace, development and prosperity are truly possible only when founded on respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
She observed that the EU is united in diversity-just like Nigeria in a sense, adding that unity and democracy must never be taken for granted, “they must be nourished”.
She said, “About 200 projects and initiatives are currently funded by the EU around the world, seeking to promote democracy and the rule of law and benefit the most vulnerable in the society particularly women and children so that they can have access to basic needs such as education and healthcare, and live free from violence and strife.
“With this in mind, the EU remains committed in supporting the Nigerian government at all levels in order to deepen its democracy, and endeavor for development for the citizens of Nigeria.
“We commit to continue supporting the consolidation of the rule of law and anti-corruption process in Nigeria with our technical and financial support and political engagement”, she stressed.
On his part, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, commended the level of synergy in the fight against corruption by the international community.
Represented by the Director, the Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department, Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, the AGF disclosed that the federal government was able to make laudable achievements in the reform of its justice sector in line with international best practices due to the support of ROLAC.
“Their support has been fundamental in driving the needed reforms of the justice sector by my Ministry,” he said.
