To curb child sexual violence, Children’s Right Advocate and Founder of Nigeria’s first free Child Helpline, Cece Yara Foundation (CYF), Bola Tinubu, has launched a new book, Bisi Is The Boss.
According to a report published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in four girls and 10 per cent of boys in Nigeria are victims of sexual violence, and of the children who reported violence, fewer than five out of a 100 received any form of support.
In a society that has an alarming rate of child sexual violence, the book raises important issues on child abuse, how to handle it and protect children from sexual predators. It also provides parents with a fun, yet educative way to navigate delicate topics regarding private body parts, establishing boundaries and speaking up in the case of abuse.
The storyline follows Bisi, a well-informed little girl who teaches young children through the book how to identify inappropriate behaviours and create body boundaries.
With the publication of Bisi Is The Boss, Tinubu provides an interesting take on child sexual education through an interactive and exciting storyline packed with fun trivia, colourful characters and valuable lessons.
The author, who is also a seasoned corporate lawyer with 25-years of practice, established the Cece Yara Non-profit organisation in 2016 armed with a multi-disciplinary team of counsellors, social workers, child advocates, lawyers and forensic interviewers to prevent child sexual abuse as well as provide access to care, information, protection and emergency intervention for children who have experienced sexual abuse or who are at risk.
In her remark during the book launch that took place on this year’s Children’s Day in Lagos, she explained that Bisi Is The Boss is not just aimed at enlightening children on how to identify inappropriate advances, their body boundaries and their trusted adults, but also to establish a space for interaction and bonding between children and their guardians, simplifying the difficult topic of abuse.
Tinubu said: “Bisi Is The Boss is a book about child safety and protection. It empowers children and their caregivers by teaching children about how to recognise boundaries, how to react, who their trusted adults are, and how to get help. The book amounts to an all-encompassing read that simplifies difficult subjects of abuse.
“Empowering children is a great step towards breaking the cycle of child sexual abuse, and my aim is to get this book into the hands of every Nigerian child no matter what their circumstances are. Bisi Is The Boss has been translated into the three major dialects in Nigeria; Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. The book is now available in eBook and Print at Amazon and Konga.”
Speaking during the launch, CEO of Cece Yara Foundation, Adetutu Ajibodu, said the Foundation was open to abused children for support and other services they render, adding that they also refer them to other agencies for rehabilitation.
