Building Awareness: The Role of Community Development in Protecting Young Girls- Buldr. Daini Spellsout Boys’ Protection.

By Araba, Olawale Enifenilanfe:

The Community Development Committee (CDC) under the administrative office of the distinguished Chairman, Comrade Buldr. Olusesan Mayokun Daini, Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and its Legislative Arm has organised advocacy and sensitization against gender-based violence and sexual abuse of adolescent and teenage girls in the age range of Twelve (12) through Sixteen (16) years old to empower them for their individual protections and consciousness across the society for the rightful living of the people yesterday, on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 at Igbogbo/Baiyeku lcda secretariate, 27, Obafemi Awolowo way, Igbogbo, Lagos State, Nigeria.

This programme encompasses over Three Hundred Forty (340) communities, which are sectioned into Ten (10) zones under the “Community Development Committee (CDC)” to foster girls’ child protection in the entire axis.

Over Seventy-Five (75) girls child participated and were impacted with knowledgeable orientations to live with as a guide against any form of sexual abuse. Also went on an advocacy rally within the communities and visited HRM Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, LLM Emugoriade I – The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom’s palace for Royal blessing.

“Royalty’s message to the girls’ children was channelled on listening to their parents, always dress decently, and voice out when necessary”.

The Chairman of the occasion, Comrade Buldr. Olusesan Mayokun Daini after protocols were duly observed during his welcome speech appreciated the CDC Zonal Chairmen for this laudable programme, volunteered over a Hundred packs of exercise books including rulers and pens, gave cash prices for the brilliant ones among the young girls and children and pinpointed the need for the boys’ protection against boys’ abuse. “Some aunties also take advantage of the boys, said on a lighter note- “If the girl child be protected, then the boys should too”. Their safety, their rights and their voices should be gender-based paramount. Men and Boys should not be neglected, he emphasised.

In a welcome speech delivered by the CDC Chairman IBLCDA, Alhaji Rasaq Ibiyeye in LCDAs’ secretariate extended his deepest gratitude to the Chairman of the occassion, Buldr. Olusesan Mayokun Daini, Igbogbo/Bayeiku LCDA Chairman for his steadfast support and commitment to making this program a reality.

Said, His valuable assistance and provision of necessary resources have laid the groundwork for the gathering where they seek to address and tackle the pressing issues of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. Appreciate his wavering dedication to the safety and development of the Igbogbo/Bayeiku lcda, especially the youth.

Specified that their mission does not only focus on creating awareness, but also engaging, educating, and empowering young girls being a learning platform for them to know their rights, understand the dangers surrounding them, and recognize the power of their voices in standing up against abuse, violence, and exploitation.

Presentation of lectures are made by Hon. Princess Adetutu Basirat Banjoko, Deputy Leader of the Legislative Arm, Igbogbo/Baiyeku lcda on Mentorship of girls child- Building self-confidence, embrace resilience and develop into empowered members of the Society about sexual abuse and gender-based violence- “When you empower a boy child, you empower a person, but when you empower a girl child, you’ve empowered a nation”.

Identify your call value; i.e. be confident of yourself as a girl’s child, be self-aware etc. “If you can think it, you can achieve it, she said.

Mrs. Foluke Daramola Sakko, Passion Against Rape and Abuse (PAIA) in Africa Foundation delivered a presentation lecture on Girl’s Child Mentorship concerning Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Abuse- “Education is the key”; Desceminated the rightful knowledge in them and guided them according to the child right law.

Said, the dignity of a girl child is based on setting her priorities right, if anybody is torching you in a wrong way raise an alarm. “If you don’t walk in the wrong part, you won’t meet with the wrong set of people”, don’t be traumatised, if you are experiencing an insex (any kind of sex between family members), speak out!- “Learn to speak out if anything wrong is happening to you, this will not affect you but will set you free from trauma”, she urged the young girls.

Dr. (Mrs) Dapo Ojo Abosede, Medical Officer of Health IBLCDA on a presentation lecture topic about Abstinence from Sex for Teenagers and the Health Implications of doing otherwise- urged them to stay away from having sex most especially when they are in their menstrual period. Healthyly orientates them about hormonal level production when too close to the male gender and when not because these hormones mainly occur in the ovaries, adrenal glands etc.

Mrs. Abike Oke, Project Director and Community Women’s Rights spoke about Sexual Abuse and Gender-Based Violence in her lecture presentation and highlighted the Seven (7) key alerts to be conscious of as regards protecting themselves against sexual abuse/rape. Below is the list of the 7 key alerts:

SEE ALERT:- Sending/Showing your private party pictures to someone.

TALK ” “:- Talking/relating private discussion is to convince you.

LAIM ” “: Being too calm or alone could be taken advantage of.

TORCH “”:- Torching you could lead to an uncontrol mood.
5: FOOD ” “: Don’t be too carried away by food/what you eat.
6: GROUP” “: When you find yourself alone in a male gender circle, takeoff and… 7: CYBER SEXUAL ABUSE ALERT: Online sexual acts will get you corrupted. Above all, “Know your right from wrongdoings”, This will help safely protect the girls’ child, she urged.

The interactive section welcomes diverse questions from the young girls and answers from the project director, Mrs Abike Oke while the young girls got the message, and summarised it in their presentation.

Closing remarks and group pictures were taken thereafter.

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