In commemoration of the International Youth Day last weekend, youths from various organizations converged in Lagos to debate on ways of reducing violence and ways of changing the narrative of so many youths becoming victims of diverse forms of violence.
The youths who converged at the Hocal Suites, Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos came together under the umbrella of a nongovernmental organization, Bimsinspire foundation for women and children, founded by an entrepreneurship expert and owner of Melethsey media, Abimbola Oligbinde, to talk about why youths are usually the victims of various forms of violence and how to bring about positive change.
Organizations that supported the interactive seminar spearheaded by Bimsinspire foundation includes Morna International Children’s Foundation (MICF), the development arm of BethZion Ventures and relationship experts; Eti-Inyene Akpan and Busola Ajala, to ruminate on the role of youths in ending domestic violence in all its forms.
The one day sensitization campaign themed, ‘Youth building peace: Towards a violent free society’ dealt with diverse ways that youths can become victims of violence, acts that can lead to violence, sexual assault especially on minors and the need for everyone to stand against the vice.
In her welcome address, the founder of Bimsinspire foundation stated that research has shown that youths constitute the highest number of victims in abuses followed by women, adding that youths are also the greatest perpetrators of violence within the society.
She consequently called for synergy among youth based organizations and other bodies to build a process of reorientation amongst the people, noting that the speakers and participants were carefully selected based on their passion and antecedents as people willing to change the narrative and put youths on a better pedestal to prepare them for takeover of the society.
Speaking on sexual assault, Bukola Afolabi Ogunyeye, decried the continuous rise of violence in homes, adding that the activities of pedophiles within the community has reached an alarming rate and there is a need for parents especially mothers to stop covering up situations because of shame.
Ogunleye further reiterated the importance of vigilance as parents, adding that it is easy to spot signs of abuse on children if one is vigilant and that parents should be friends with their children and should not be comfortable with leaving them with just anyone they see as no one can be trusted.
Eti-Inyene Akpan on his part raised the issue of stigmatizing rape victims and putting the blame on them because rapists do not need any provocation before they strike, adding that women should be taught to place value on themselves as individuals as low self esteem exposes people especially girls to all from of abuses.
He reiterated the need for people to speak out and not feel unconcerned as anyone could be a victim of any form of abuse, adding that abuse is not only sexual but could be verbal, emotional or psychological, noting that verbal abuse is also deadly as it erodes a person’s sense of self worth.
On her part, Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare spoke on the need to create an effective all encompassing system and educate security agencies of the sensitivity of issues that bother on rape or violence as they have a great role to play, adding that the desired change can only come about if every part of the system is funtional and everyone plays his part.
According to her, there is a need for stronger legislation against abuses especially of minors while there should also be a process of victim protection to enable more people develop confidence in the system in order for them to speak out when they are abused.
She further encouraged that parents should not raise goodly children but Godly children because goodly children only put on good attitude when parents or figures of authority are present and are prone to become abusers when they get the chance.
At the end of the programme, there was a consensus that to bring the desired change and bring about a change in the present narrative, there must be a collective effort as every individual has a role to play
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