A radio program organized by Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YCDEI), in conjunction with Splash FM, Ibadan, was held on the 20th of August 2020, at Oba Abimbola Oluwo road, Felele, Ibadan. It was attended by Dr. Adefunke Ekine, the Executive director of YCDEI, who also served as a guest speaker and 6 other members of YCDEI. The program also featured two additional guest speakers; Mrs. Ibukunoluwa Otesile and Mr. Taofeek Olatubosun and was anchored by Mr. Michael Olatubosun.
The topic for discussion was “Why every gender-based violence is critical”. The program began with the anchor providing a solid background on the need for empowerment on issues such as gender-based violence before handing over to the first speaker, Dr. Adefunke Ekine. She began with the reports of a study carried out between October 2019 to March 2020, by YCDEI, on children from ages 10-13 years to provide research findings on School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) in Nigeria, as well as Malawi, Kenya, and Jamaica. She expounded on how in Nigeria, the study spanned through 5 states and confirmed the prevalence of gender-based violence in primary Schools. She also explained the severe implications on children both physically and mentally, and how it may even lead to the children becoming perpetrators themselves, as they grow older. She also stated that for solutions to be found, awareness has to be created.
The second speaker Mrs. Ibukunoluwa Otesile, spoke on how adults are responsible for gender-based violence in schools, as children mostly replicate actions they see adults carry out. She further explained that although children mostly learn about sexual acts from what they see, they could also accidentally discover through innocent experimenting with themselves, which may later lead to wanting to explore with others in school, especially after this period of pandemic where they have been kept at home for long, and are jarring to return to school.
In continuation, Mr Michael urged listeners to spread the awareness of School Related Gender Based Violence, and in doing so become part of the solution.
Dr. Adefunke Ekine stressed the need for parents, teachers, and school administrators to provide adequate psychosocial support for both the victims and the perpetrators, so as to imbibe the right attitude.
Reported by Oyekunle Busayo
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