Agency Establishes Clubs In Schools To Tackle Violence Against Children

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it has established clubs in 10 secondary schools in Kaduna State to propagate its End Violence Against Children (EVAC) campaign.

The clubs were established by the agency in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education and UNICEF.

The state Director of NOA, Zubairu Galadima-Soba, said that the aim was to sensitise students on issues surrounding violence against children and how to end it.

Galadima-Soba represented by UNICEF Focal Person, Yusuf Balarabe, urged students to join the club.

He advised them to organise debates, quizzes and dramas to sensitise other students on the dangers of violence against children.

He listed the different forms of violence to include physical violence (inflicting physical pain on children), emotional violence, sexual violence and negligence.

“Any students that experience or know someone experiencing any form of violence should speak out and report to their parents or school authorities.

“The school authorities will take it further by reporting to Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centres in the state,” Galadima-Soba said.

The Principal of the school, Charity Omomugwu, described the establishment of the club as necessary and timely and commended NOA for the efforts.

Omomugwu said the school was teaching students to say no to any form of violence, especially sexual violence.

“The establishment of the club is a motivation to do more.

“We had an incidence, where a pupil was sexually abused by her elder brother at home and the parents were hiding the matter, when we heard it, we reported it to the authorities,” she said.

A student, Grace Sample, who was appointed the President of the club, said she would ensure adequate sensitisation of other students on issues that border on violence against children.

The Secretary of the club, MacArthur Olorunagbe, said that they would organise quizzes and dramas that centre around violence against children as part of the advocacy.