For many teenagers, recognising abuse, setting personal boundaries and finding the courage to report inappropriate behaviour can be difficult, particularly when the perpetrators are people they know or trust.

To help young people navigate these challenges, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has launched the Smart Teens Advocacy Initiative (STAI), equipping adolescents with the knowledge and confidence to recognise, prevent and report sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The initiative, themed: “Stay Safe, Speak Up,” was launched on Tuesday at Girls Senior High School, Agege, with 320 students from schools across Education District I participating.
 
It seeks to promote personal safety, healthy boundaries and peer advocacy while encouraging teenagers to speak out against abuse without fear of blame or intimidation.
 
Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, while speaking at the launch, said empowering young people to protect themselves and support others was crucial to preventing sexual and GBV.
 
She urged students to challenge harmful attitudes, promote respect and report abuse, stressing that children should be able to seek help without being blamed for what happened to them.
 
Vivour-Adeniyi also called on parents, teachers, caregivers and relevant institutions to create environments where children could speak freely, have their concerns taken seriously and receive the protection they needed.
 
Head of the Counselling Unit, Education District I, Dr Olubukola Rosanwo, commended the initiative and encouraged the students to participate actively and apply the lessons to their daily lives.
 
She stressed the need for safe school environments where students could confidently approach counsellors, teachers and other trusted adults whenever they encountered abuse or situations that made them uncomfortable.
 
In her keynote address, titled “Stay Safe and Speak Up,” the State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Mrs Aderonke Oyelakin, urged the teenagers to learn how to identify unsafe situations, establish personal boundaries and make informed decisions.
 
She also drew attention to online safety, advising students to exercise caution in their digital interactions and report abusive behaviour to trusted adults and appropriate authorities.
 
A session on “Breaking the Silence in Our Schools: Preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Through Teen Advocacy,” facilitated by Bunmi Amosu examined different forms of abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as technology-facilitated violence.
 
The students were encouraged to speak out against bullying, harassment, peer pressure and other harmful behaviours that could undermine their safety and wellbeing.
 
Beyond recognising abuse, the session highlighted the importance of supporting peers who disclose their experiences. Students were, however, advised to listen without judgment, avoid victim-blaming and help affected peers access support through trusted adults, parents, teachers, school counsellors and relevant authorities.
 
The message was that preventing abuse requires more than telling young people to be careful. It also demands a culture in which victims feel safe enough to speak up and are confident that their disclosures will be treated seriously.
 
The launch of the STAI booklet in Education District I is expected to reinforce this approach by helping students understand their rights, identify where to seek assistance and take practical steps to protect themselves and their peers.
 
Through the initiative, the DSVA is seeking to strengthen child protection and public awareness efforts across Lagos State, with teenagers encouraged to become advocates for safer schools and respectful relationships.
 
For the students, the central message of the programme was clear: recognising abuse is important, but knowing how to seek help and supporting others to do the same are equally vital in breaking the silence surrounding sexual and gender-based violence.