By Matthew Denis
A Non Governmental Organisation, Lifefound Foundation has sensitised 100 children on sex abuse prevention in Ilorin, Kwara State on Saturday.
The event which held at the Kwara Hotel with the theme: “I’m strong and secure to say No to drugs and sexual abuse,” had children from the age of seven and above as participants.
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Yemisi Adeyeye said the sex education and empowerment programme is targeted at children in Ilorin and beyond.
She said,” We are focusing on emotional intelligence and appropriate sex education for children to prevent abuse. We discovered that children are the ones that feel effect of what is happening in the family. This is because it is believed that they are to be seen and not heard.
Adeyeye, who is the Medical Director of Lifefound Hospital revealed that sex abuse could lead children to commit suicide.
She added, ” As part of our corporate social responsibility we don’t want to close our eyes. Because of the economy, parents are abandoning their children and they’re becoming vulnerable to dangers.
” So we brought in specialists and professionals in the area of guidance and counseling to talk to these children on emotional intelligence, child and sexual abuse in order to give them orientation on these vices.”
The medical expert stressed that the programme will assist children not to get distressed or frustrated when they find themselves in such condition, so that they will not resort to suicide or go for abortion as last option.
She said, ” Gone are the days when parents take sex education of children with levity. We want to change that narrative because these children we are raising have access to social media and a lot of things.
” We have to give them the right information concerning sex education because whether you like it or not they will get it out there. Therefore, educating these children will help them not to go astray but take the right decision.”
She disclosed that about 100 children participated in the sex education programme.
She then called on the Federal Government to include sex education in the school syllables so that the children will be properly guided at the early stage of life.
