The Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has urged parents to watch over their children and wards during the holidays to prevent them from sexual abuse.
Dr. Oyebanji who noted that sexual abuse of minors, is very common during holidays ,urged parents not to allow their children spend holiday in places where their safety are not guaranteed, saying sexual violation of minors are perpetrated by close relations such as uncles and neighbours.
She gave the advice in Ado Ekiti on Monday during a training for male teachers on Prohibition of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Public Secondary Schools held under the aegis of the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.
Dr. Oyebanji who was optimistic that the Economic situation in Nigeria would get better soon, cautioned teachers not to allow the situation make them transfer aggression to the students that could result to mishandling them.
The Governor’s wife explained that education is pivotal to the success of the state government’s human capital development leg of the five pillar agenda of the Biodun Oyebanji Administration which has necessitated the capacity building for the teachers.
Adding that parents, guardians and teachers have roles to play in the reduction of Gender based violence, noting that they should not let down their guards during holidays when abusers of children would be on prowl looking for victims among adolescent girls and boys.
She said: “Our children will be at home during the holidays and many of us will be at work. Even when they go to lessons, they will still come back home. Please, let’s keep eagle-eyes on them because those who molest the children are mostly not outsiders,They also can be uncles, close relations and neighbours.
“Let us tell our mothers to stop sending our children on errands anyhow so that those innocent children will not fall victims of abuse
We need to protect our children who are on break now because the essence of holiday is for them to relax and recharge for the new academic session.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Kofoworola Aderiye, said male teachers are important stakeholders in preventing Gender based violence owing to their influence as fathers, husbands and mentors to students.
The Special Adviser who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in her ministry, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, said the time has come to change the narrative on Gender based violence and carry everyone along to reduce the incidence.
A facilitator at the training, Mrs. Omolayo Oyawoye, explained that Gender based violence;especially sexual abuse of minors grew in the society because of the culture of silence, noting that the situation is changing with more victims speaking up and enactment and implementation of laws to tackle the scourge.
She urged male teachers to be models to their students and also be champions against abuses at homes and in the schools noting that this will go a long way to keep the students safe from being abused.
The training was attended by leaders of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), AGILE officials and other stakeholders.