Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) an NGO, has called for prompt and fast handling of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
related cases to help address the abuse among adolescents in the country.
The Project Officer of the Organisation, Miss Emeghoghena Josephine, made the call on Wednesday, during a Sexual and Gender Based Violence Awareness in Government Secondary School (GSS) Rubochi Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the awareness is titled :Curbing School Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Raising Anti-GBV Ambassadors.
Josephine said the objective of the awareness is to help in the elimination of gender based violence among the adolescents in FCT Schools, through education along with effective advocacy.
According to her, Sexual and Gender Based Violence has become a current pandemic in the society, hence the need for adequate sensitisation and awareness was paramount to help address the challenges.
“The organisation felt there is a need to speak out, this project is going to six schools in the six Area Councils in FCT, to talk to the girls with a short video and pre/post test on Gender based violence.
“We will sensitise them to help them know the narrative of various forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, ranging from rape, spouse battering and domestic violence.
“We will also be inaugurating five SGBV ambassadors who will be helping us to talk about the abuse in schools by sensitising their students and members of their communities.
“This target audience need to be sensitise to become responsible citizens with access to right information, resist violence and any form of abuse or manipulation,” she said.
However, she also called on the general public to galvanise the policy makers and stakeholders to support in tackling GBV and drug abuse in the country.
The Head Teacher of the school, Mr Makut Bulus, commended the organisation for the sensitisation programme and the dogedness in the enlightenment and assured them of his commitment to the course.
Besides, Bulus, encouraged the students to take advantage of the GBV sensitisation campaign by the organisation to help address the challenges.
“On behalf of the school, we will do everything possible to ensure that we give you a backup for this very initiative and as much as possible to promote this very programme,” he said.
Miss Awoyindna Omega, a student who spoke on behalf of other students, said the sensitisation has created an opportunity for them to share experiences, challenges, innovations and ideas on how to curb the menace. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
