The Edo State Government has released a film to educate the public on gender-based violence concerns and promote a culture in which there is no tolerance for violence against any gender.
The four-day international film festival will open with the film "We will not be silent," according to Betsy Obaseki, the first lady of Edo State. The festival is being organised by the state government in conjunction with partners from the commercial sector.
The film that would kick off the festival, according to Mrs. Obaseki, chairman of the Edo State Gender Based Violence (Edo-GBV) Management Committee, was chosen to support the state government's efforts to create a society free from violence.
She said the theme of the film festival, Edo to the world, was geared towards projecting the rich cultural heritage and history of Edo State to the international community.
“This is a day we have been looking forward to and I am very proud to be part of this unfolding the renaissance and rebirth of our heritage, our rich history and culture that has been in coma for several decades.
“I am particularly happy today because the film that will be premiered to kick off this festival happens to be the one I am part of. It got borne out of the work we have been doing in Edo State in gender-based violence.
“I happen to chair the gender-based violence committee in the state. We had support from the Ford Foundation and they gave us a grant in Edo State among three other states to help us develop our capacity and mechanism to fight this menace in our country.
“We expect that the history, culture and the lives of Edo people of past centuries till date will be exhibited to the world. Indeed, it is Edo to the world,” Obaseki said.