The North-Central region has been identified to have the highest cases of women battery in Nigeria while the South-West is rated as the lowest with such incidences.

Former minister of Education Dr Oby Ezkwesili who said this yesterday in Lagos cited the result of the findings carried out by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Ezekwesili spoke on the topic: "Violence Affecting Young Persons."  The event was organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative.

She said: "In the UNFPA report, it was revealed that 50 percent of violence against young persons in Nigeria is carried out against people who are below 15 years of age."

She said the growing culture of violence in Nigeria is worsened because of the patriarchal nature of the society. Every stakeholder must work to support the education and the empowerment of the girl-child to stop the trend she said.