Government, others tasked on protecting Makoko residents from sexual abuse

The Government, Corporate Organisations and well meaning Nigerians have been urged to sensitise

children in Makoko Community on child sexual abuse.

The Convener, Smile and Shine Children’s foundation, Mrs. Nimi Ekere stated that often, children are abused by the people they are familiar with, hence the need to sensitise and educate them.

According to her, the choice of Makoko for the sentisation was borne out of the information received from the people of the community that there are lots of underage children with pregnancy.

Ekere, who lamented the situation during the foundation’s visit to the community, noted that there is need for urgent and desperate help for the people.

She said: “Its no longer news that children are sexually abused by the people that they know. A lot of them are susceptible to abuse. That is why we are here to sensitise them on the need to speak up, anytime they are confronted with such abuse.

“Children in this area are as important as the children in the city. So we decided to reach out to them and teach them what sexual abuse is all about. A lot of them don’t know and even their parents are ignorant of this.

“There is a need for parents to have a good relationship with their children and such a relationship should be effective and ongoing, so that the children can open up and tell them when there is danger lurking.

“This community needs help desperately and timely.  There is a need for government to do more, they should come here and see things for themselves. Sometimes it’s not enough to send delegates. Besides, well meaning Nigerians should come and help these children; they need education, shelter and electricity, among others. These are things that make them human beings.

A resident, Mrs. Akeh Florence applauded the initiative and corroborated that there are lots of underage children, who are pregnant in the area.

She said: “This is a very good development, we need organisations to come and help educate our children. There are lots of children in this community, we need foundations to come and teach them so that they will not be left behind. Cases of sexual abuse are rampant in this community. There are lots of underage children who are pregnant.”

Also,  a director in Smile and Child foundation, Mr. Adegboye Olagunju said, “this advocacy is all about our children and protecting their interest. We have had enough abuse among our children. This is the time for us to fight against abusers. This is the time to put an end to all kinds of abuse in our community.”