Pastor Bimbo Odukoya Foundation Intensifies Campaign Against Sexual Violence

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Pastor Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, PBOF, has intensified its efforts in creating awareness and curbing the alarming rate of rape and other gender related violent crimes in Nigeria.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the theme for the  Foundation’s Annual Partners’ Day to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2020 held at Ilupeju, Lagos.

The Guest Speaker, Mrs. Tinuke Olukoya, an expert and Director of Administration,  Centre for Women’s Health and Information(CEWHIN), noted that sexual and gender-based violence has devastating effects on victims and could result in mental illness and trauma for life.

“Rape cases have continued to proliferate and we need to do something about it. One in five women in the world is a victim of rape or attempted rape.”

Mrs. Odukoya noted that women are more vulnerable to sexual crimes than men, noting that sexual violence reflects and reinforces existing gender inequalities.
“The data on sexual and gender-based violence and its reflecting figures on a nation like Nigeria is most appalling. In the country, sexual violence is increasing at an alarming rate, but with the right help, it can be managed.”

Mrs Odukoya suggested that constructive enlightenment and engagement was needed for the stakeholders – government, parents and the victims, to know the danger of sexual violence to both the victims and the society.
She urged that the victims should be encouraged to speak out and raising alarm as protective mechanism and there has to be sanctions for those who commit such dastardly act to the victims.

The project manager of PBOF, Mr. Ese Akpovona, thanked the partners who had been supporting the group both financially and morally and presented the details of their activities for 2019.
He said that with the support they got from donors, they were able to embark on enlightenment programme by visiting many schools and centres to educate and enlighten them especially the younger ones who are the vulnerable for sexual violence.
He  also explained that the foundation has embarked on the arrest and prosecution of predators in various Courts for justice for the victims.

He equally hinted that through the Foundation, 71 sexual/domestic violence cases had been handled while 66 individuals including Youths, women and men counselled. About 615 schools prefects have also been trained on leadership while 3, 933 youths/students had been trained on value/self-realisation and personal development. Mr. Ese said 2, 980 girls were also empowered in STEM while 19,898 students, teachers and parents were sensitized and 46 volunteers were trained on child protection/safeguarding.

Ese also said that the Foundation has lined up many activities targeted to enlighten the likely vulnerable and to equip them on how to protect themselves from abuse.

The coordinator of the Foundation, Mrs. Aderonke Oyelakin, commended the support the foundation was getting from partners, organisations and individuals and noted that the foundation was facing financial challenges due to the cost implication of embarking on the projects slated for 2020.
She said the Foundation’s bus has been grounded and needs to be repaired to enhance their movement to accomplish their programme. She appealed to well meaning people in the society to come to their aid to assist the foundation in order to continue to embark on the projects of assistance to the vulnerable in the society.
One of the Partners, Mrs. Adedapo Oso, commended the foundation for what they have been doing over the years.
She urged that the government should strengthen the judicial processes to ensure that the predators should not walk back to the society freely and continue to molest the vulnerable in the society.