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By Precious Oham
A group, Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, has embarked on sensitization on how to eliminate check Gender Based Violence, GBV, in Ekiti State.
The one-day Advocacy/Seminar on Tracking and Reporting Gender Based Violence Perpetrators for the Anti-GBV Clubs in all Public Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, held on Thursday.
Speaking at Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti, the Director, Evaluation and Standard in the Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Adebayo Modupe urged the students to speak up and protect themselves from GBV.
She explained that the sensitization programme was part of the effort of the group to fight against sexual abuse , how to maintain hygiene during menstrual cycle and stop Female Genital Mutilation among others social vices.
She said: “When you face any form of violence, you must speak out. You have every right to say no when you face any form of violence.”
Also, AGILE GBV officer, Mr. Akindele Olaitan identified issues associated with GBV including; sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child labour, economic violence, psychological violence.
He noted that the objective of AGILE project is to increase enrolment and ensure that students in the state complete their secondary education and engage in life skills of safe space.
Olaitan, who pointed out the dangers associated with Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, urged them to preach and disseminate information to their family members and friends as Anti-GBV club members.
The AGILE GBV officer said the was also targeted to increase students enrolment and make sure they complete secondary school education.
He urged the students to protect themselves, home and school from GBV as Anti-GBV club members, saying FGM has its disadvantage.
” You must preach and disseminate these information to your family, friends that FGM should not be done in Ekiti”
“You must match to eradicate and eliminate rape in our society. When you are observing your menstrual cycle, ensure you clean up yourselves through personal hygiene.”
Other schools that benefited from the seminar are Babatope Memorial High School, Ikoro-Ekiti and Girls Modern College, Ilawe-Ekiti.
AGILE donated sanitary pads, writing and reading materials on GBV and T-shirts with the inscription “Ekiti says no to Gender Based Violence”