Ajirioghene Imah
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has stated that male students need to be equipped with basic knowledge on the menace of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the State.
Dr. Oyebanji made this known while delivering an address at the training of Male Students on Gender-Based Violence Prohibition in Public Schools in Ado Ekiti, the State capital.
The Ekiti First Lady noted that the battle against the scourge of Gender-Based Violence in schools in particular and the society in general may not be totally won if schoolboys are not given the right orientation and enlightenment on its evils.
The training which was sponsored by the World Bank assisted Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) was attended by school administrators, teachers, officials of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Ministry of Education, among others.
Dr. Oyebanji emphasized that it was of utmost importance to adequately educate the male child on the prevention of violence to prevent abuse of fellow students in schools especially girls and to ensure a peaceful society devoid of gender violence.
According to her, “All the efforts to make our schools and community spaces safe for our female students cannot be effective until the male gender is adequately trained on the causes and effects of their choices and actions.”
She further encouraged the participating students not to be selfish with knowledge acquired at the training but rather share with friends and neighbours to aid desired violence free society.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Adebimpe Aderiye, said the government is working out modalities to ensure a brighter future for the young ones, urging them to reciprocate the gesture by being passionate and obedient to good counselling.
The State AGILE Coordinator, Yewande Adesua, also encouraged the students to make judicious use of the training and focus their attention both on their studies and other moral lessons.