WAPA advises women on financial independence, self-reliance amid domestic violence concerns

The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has advised women to work toward becoming financially independent to reduce the incidents of Domestic Violence (DV).

Ms Adefunke Adetola, the Head of WAPA, Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), gave the advice during an interview on Thursday in Lagos.

According to Oxford English Dictionary, domestic violence is any incident of violence, threatening behaviour, or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.

It is discovered  “out of all the complaints received at the council, DV cases were the most reported.”

She added that most of the complaints were received on clinic days, particularly from married women who were physically abused by their husbands.

She explained that some cases were so bad that the council had to refer them to other agencies, including; Family Support Services (FSS), Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Director of Domestic Violence.

Adetola said the council had received some positive feedback from those engagements, as some marriages have been saved.

She, however, said the reports showed that most victims of DV were women who were not financially independent.

She said being financially independent and self-reliant would help women to develop self-esteem and avoid situations that could lead to abuse by husbands.

She added that “some women are idle, while some say their husbands have refused to allow them to work.

“Some others are even graduates with good results and certificates but they are just at home.

“There are some others who say they are waiting for their husbands to establish businesses for them.”

Adetola cautioned women against being liabilities by being totally and financially dependent on their husbands.

She urged women to get jobs or acquire skills, including tailoring and hairdressing, that could help them financially, while planning on starting bigger businesses.

Recalling the case of a woman she referred to the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba in Lagos because of the severity of her case, Adetola advised women to take care of themselves, apart from caring for children and husband.

She insisted that women must also have time for themselves and not to devote their lives entirely for their husbands and children.

She said the woman she referred to the neuropsychiatric hospital was devastated and the situation had affected her mental health.

“You cannot be a good woman in everything. There’s no way you can satisfy everybody. Just give yourself some peace,” she advised.