The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, has organised a three-day interactive session entitled “Compulsory Effective Pre-marital Preparatory Counseling for Intending Couples” for 62 Marriage Officials from 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos State at Ostra Halls & Hotels, Ikeja.
In her keynote presentation, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mrs. Kikelomo Sanyaolu, praised the Agency for its creative move and timely effort in addressing the rising incidence of domestic violence in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
Sanyaolu, who was represented by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adeniji, said that the effort will go a long way toward reducing or eradicating the incidence of domestic and sexual abuse in society, and she pledged the continued support of her Ministry to ensure the program’s success.
The Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, acknowledged earlier in her welcoming speech that current data indicate that at least 80% of clients who claim marital abuse had prior awareness of their partner’s atypical behaviour yet continued with the relationship anyhow.
She added that the themes were carefully chosen from the eight-week intensive Pre-Marital Effectiveness Counselling Curriculum in order to strengthen the expertise of marriage authorities and equip them to deliver pre-marital counselling to intended couples prior to the exchange of vows.
Mr. Praise Fowowe, one of the facilitators and a founder of The Institute of Family Engineering & Development Africa, educated the attendees about gender and sex roles, the notion of marriage, and understanding love and love codes. Also, he defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman from two separate countries (families) to form a new nation (family) that serves the greatest interests of everyone.
Mr. Oladele Emmanuel Temilade, another facilitator and founder of the Institute of Marriage Counselors of Nigeria, educated the participants on principles that promote marital health, as well as the legislative, behavioural, and administrative functions of marriage registrars.
Dr. Tolu Oko-Ighaire, a facilitator and Provost at the Institute of Counselling of Nigeria, lectured about counselling and optimal counselling methods.