By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
As part of activities to mark 2023 International children’s day, a non governmental organization, under the auspices of the Eunice Nnachi Women Advocacy Foundation, ENWAF, has donated dozens of exercise books to St Jude’s girls secondary school, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The organization made the donation, when they embarked on an advocacy sensitization campaign to the girls school, in
celebration of the children’s day.
Speaking on the theme” The state of the Nigerian Children Today- “Proper Parenting for Value Re-Orientation and National Consciousness”, the CEO/Founder of ENWAF, Lady Eunice Nnachi, stressed the need for the students to speak up, when they experienced any form of gender based violence.
Lady Nnachi and other ENWAF members took turns to admonish the students on teenage pregnancy, indecent dressing, sex education, punctuality, rape, Gender Based Violence, cultism, drug abuse, and self discipline.
“Teenage pregnancy should be avoided at the tender age, to avoid neglect, and depression. It has higher rates of suicidal ideation than their peers who aren’t mothers.
“Punctuality gives you the right amount of stability, security, and self-confidence which enables them to lead a propitious life. Students who are always on time earn the utmost respect and social acceptance in schools, in society than the students who are not.
“Being punctual not only makes you dependable but also helps you to build your confidence. For example, when people depend on you and give you more tasks, you know that they have placed trust in you. This will build your self-confidence and you get an assurance that you can handle larger tasks.
“Indecent dressing which is an attitude of showing off parts of the body like the breasts, buttocks or even the underwear particularly those areas need to be covered.
“Indecent dressing could cause sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, prostitution, ritual killing, poor academic performance, unwanted pregnancy, and must be avoided.
“Rape victim is never at fault. I don’t care about what the society feels, but the victim is never at fault. Whether the victim is walking in the dark path, or dressed necked, she is never at fault. God forbid if it happens to anybody you know or happens to you, and you keep quiet, you make the person win. Always speak up.
Lady Eunice informed the students that ENWAF, is a nongovernmental organization with headquarters in Bayelsa, to empower and improve the welfare situation and overall development of teenagers in the various local government of Bayelsa.
She further stressed the need for the girls who are the most vulnerable to speak up on any form of GBV, as it causes severe harm to families and communities.
Members include the Mrs Ebizimor Oroyi, Preye Ombu, Mrs Felicia Ekenma, and Mrs Powo Abila.
Highpoints of the sensitization visit was donation of dozens of exercise book to the students