Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hon. Adijat Adeleye, has commended survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), for their resilience by not allowing their experience to affect their psyche, acknowledging their tenacity to outlive their past.

Hon. Adeleye gave the word of encouragement at a one-day meeting on Mental Health Psycho-Social Services (MHPSS) and skill acquisition on reusable pads for survivors of GBV, at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

She expressed satisfaction that they were able to stand strong, despite their horrible encounters, noting that the skill acquisition programme was organised to make them self-reliant since the major cause of GBV is poverty.

"There is no successful person that does not have one or two stories to tell in life, therefore I want you to be focused and not allow anything to distract you because the future is great, rebuild your life and do the best you can", she said.

Contributing, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs.) Ayotunde Lawal, advised the survivors not to be demoralised or look down on themselves, advising them to utilise every knowledge gained at the training to build their capacity, as the future still holds better promises for them.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Adejumoke Adewole, on her part, appealed to the survivors not to dwell on the trauma but focus on the future and aim to attain greater pedestal in life.

The survivors were trained on how to make reusable pads and powered with cash gifts.