Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mrs. Kikelomo Sanyaolu, applauded the Agency for the brilliant move and timely initiative to address the increasing cases of domestic violence in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

Sanyaolu, represented by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adeniji, said the initiative would go a long way in helping to reduce or eradicate the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence in society, pledging the continuous support of her Ministry in ensuring the success of the programme.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed that recent statistics show 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.

She explained that the topics were carefully selected from the developed eight-week intensive Pre-Marital Effectiveness Counselling Curriculum to enhance the knowledge of marriage officials and equip them to effectively administer pre-marital counselling to intending couples prior to saying ‘I DO’.

One of the facilitators and a Founder of The Institute of Family Engineering & Development Africa, Mr. Praise Fowowe, enlightened the participants on gender and sex roles, the concept of marriage and understanding love and love codes. He also described 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.

Another facilitator and Founder of the Institute of Marriage Counselors of Nigeria, Mr. Oladele Emmanuel Temilade lectured the participants on concepts that promote marital wellness, statutory roles as well as behavioural and administrative roles of marriage registrars.

Dr. Tolu Oko-Ighaire, a facilitator and Provost, Institute of Counselling of Nigeria Relationship Expert spoke on counselling and best practices for counselling.