Cover image L – R:Perm Sec, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Adebimpe Obienu, representatives of Justice, Health ministries and HiiL country representative, Ijeoma Nwafor.
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, HiiL, on Friday handed over _’Ibi Isadi’_ — a One-Stop Shop and digital Gender-Based Violence, GBV, case management platform — to the Ogun State Government to facilitate seamless access to justice for over 10,000 victims.
The documents were handed over to representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Women Affairs and Health at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Justice, Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, to mark the official closure of the HiiL Justice Innovation Lab pilot project in the state.
Speaking at the event attended by members of civil society organisations and other stakeholders, HiiL Country Representative in Nigeria, Ijeoma Nwafor, charged the state government to take ownership of the concept, scale it up, and ensure victims of GBV in rural communities, at the local government and state levels have access to meaningful justice at no cost.
Nwafor lamented that 15,000 cases of GBV are recorded in the state annually, stressing that the lack of an enabling environment — including laws, funding and policies — had hitherto denied victims justice in domestic violence cases.
She urged the Ogun State Government to establish a joint taskforce at the community, local and state levels to serve the interests of victims and ensure offenders face justice.
Disclosing that the _’Ibi Isadi’_ initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16.3, Nwafor revealed that HiiL targets liberating 150 million Nigerians from the shackles of domestic violence by the year 2030.
In his remarks, Justice O. Ogunfowora pledged the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to sustaining and expanding the _Ibi Isadi_ initiative, describing the transition as “the beginning of a greater responsibility rather than the end of a development project.”
Justice Ogunfowora commended HiiL for transforming access to justice in the state through its people-centred justice model, which prioritises the needs of ordinary citizens.
Reflecting on the programme’s inception, the Chief Judge admitted he had initially been sceptical about HiiL’s intervention, citing previous experiences with short-lived reform initiatives.
However, he said the organisation had exceeded expectations by backing its approach with credible research, empirical data and practical solutions tailored to Ogun State’s justice challenges.
“Rather than imposing foreign models, HiiL fostered collaboration among the judiciary, ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society groups, traditional institutions and community leaders to jointly design sustainable reforms,” he noted.
Justice Ogunfowora described the _Ibi Isadi_ initiative as the finest expression of that collaborative philosophy, adding that the project was deliberately given a Yoruba name to reflect local identity and ownership.
According to him, Ogun State is now equipped to drive the vision independently while ensuring that justice services remain accessible, responsive and community-focused.
Calling on all stakeholders to embrace the responsibility of sustaining the initiative, the judge urged government institutions, the judiciary, ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and traditional rulers to work together beyond institutional boundaries.
He warned against rivalry and competition among agencies, stressing that the interests of vulnerable citizens must always take precedence over institutional recognition.
“The ordinary woman seeking protection from abuse does not care which ministry receives the credit,” he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adebimpe Folusho Obienu, described the initiative as a landmark achievement that marks the beginning of a stronger institutional response to protecting survivors and ensuring easier access to justice across the state.
She noted that the project represents a shift towards a people-centred justice system that prioritises the needs and dignity of survivors.
Mrs. Obienu commended HiiL for introducing an innovative justice model that brought together government agencies, civil society organisations, community leaders and technology experts to design solutions tailored to Ogun State’s realities.
She also praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for providing the political will and enabling environment that have strengthened the implementation of the Violence Against Persons, Prohibition, VAPP, Law, expanded survivor support services, and enhanced the work of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Management Committee, VAPPMC.
According to her, the governor’s commitment has positioned the fight against GBV as a governance priority rather than merely a social responsibility.
Addressing concerns over the uniqueness of _Ibi Isadi_ despite the existence of Sexual Assault Referral Centres, SARCs, the Permanent Secretary explained that the project was designed to complement, not replace, existing institutions.
She said the one-stop shop offers a single entry point for survivors of all forms of GBV, strengthens referrals among healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, legal aid, shelters and social welfare services, while extending support to communities through Primary Health Care Centres and Community Justice Representatives.
She stressed that the strength of the initiative lies in its coordination, accessibility and integration of services around survivors.
Mrs. Obienu also highlighted the significance of the newly developed digital platform, describing it as a major breakthrough in addressing long-standing challenges associated with fragmented GBV data.
She explained that the system will enable secure documentation of cases, improve inter-agency referrals, facilitate effective follow-up of survivors, and generate reliable data for policy formulation and resource allocation.
“Good data leads to good policy. Good policy leads to better protection. Better protection saves lives,” she declared, adding that the platform will strengthen evidence-based decision-making and improve service delivery across relevant institutions.
She concluded by emphasising the need for government ownership to guarantee the sustainability of the initiative beyond donor support.
Drawing lessons from a recent learning exchange with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, Mrs. Obienu said lasting innovation can only be achieved when governments institutionalise, fund and continuously improve programmes introduced by development partners.
She expressed confidence that _Ibi Isadi_ would evolve into a permanent government programme under the leadership of the VAPPMC, working closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and other relevant agencies to build a safer, more inclusive and compassionate Ogun State.
