On the occasion of 24th Career Counselling Industry Awareness Workshop of the Lonadek Vision 2020: Youth Empowerment & Restoration Initiative

                                                A CALL TO ACTION

There is an urgent need to enlighten our youths to be vigilant of their environment and be confident to report any form of irregularities to the school authorities and parents.

On the 6th of May, 2017, an alleged rape incident happened in broad daylight around the Ikoyi High School and Ireti Girls Grammar School environment.

The school boys chased after the school girls with scissors to cut open their skirts just after their final school leaving examinations. This was said to be a cultural practice of these schools, an ex- student of the school also confirmed that this has been happening as far back as 1998.  We the concerned parents across Lagos picketed the school on Tuesday 9th of May, 2017 at 8:00am to express our concerns and displeasure on the unimaginable act. Letters were addressed to the school principals, Honorable Commissioner for Education and Special Adviser to the Governor on Education.

Rape is a violation of human dignity and a barbaric act that the youth need to understand is not societally acceptable. The impact on of this act on young girls is not appealing in the society that we live in.

The Effects of Rape and Sexual Violation:

• Insecurity
• Lower enrolment and completion rate of girls in schools
• The Abuse can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and infertility
• The Abuse can lead to unwanted pregnancy, bad abortions and invariably inability to have children
• The emotional scars can cause dysfunctional relationships in the future of these girls
• Promiscuity can develop after such an incidence because of low self-esteem and self-worth
• It can truncate the educational trajectory of the girls
• Negative social stigma can affect the girl and her family

What steps can you take:

• Talk about Rape and Sexual assault at school, home and among your peeps
• Make sure your views are heard advocating for respect, fairness and social discipline
• Your voice must be heard as an advocate against this social vice
• Report perpetrators of such acts to anyone in authority whether directly or a whistleblower (A whistleblower is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public).
• Do not succumb to peer pressure to participate, be a by stander or keep quiet on such occasions
• There is a law against rape and rapists and accomplices will go to jail if and when caught
• Rape and sexual assault is not youth exuberance. Real men do not rape.
• Sexual coercion, intimidation, threats, violence, pressure is not acceptable. It is not violent and must not be condoned in our society. It is a crime.

SPEAK UP AGAINST ALL CRIMES.

The students involved in the reported act will not go scot free; they are presently in the police custody. One of them is above 18 years of age, this means he will be prosecuted while all boys will be remanded in the juvenile home for rehabilitation and correction purpose. They will serve as a point of correction to other young boys who might want to perpetrate such act in future. If we do not correct this now, some of these boys will turn out to be in high business environment and even in government. The earlier we correct this, the better and safer for the nation not to breed hooligans in our society.

Finally, a good habit begins from now to become good ambassadors in the society. Remember, do not hesitate to report anyone caught up in such act.

‘’Character is vital in self-development’’