Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo has stated that the Protect the Girl Child Initiative of her office has identified sex abuse as one of the major problems affecting children, physically and psychologically.
The Deputy Governor stated this during a Sex and Sex Abuse Mentorship Exercise organized by the Office of the Deputy Governor, as part of the Protect the Girl Child Initiative programme of her office at the federal Government Girls Collage in Abuloma.
Represented by her Senior Special Assistant Mrs. Inegogo Fubara, Dr. Banigo said the issue of sex and sexual abuse has become very rampant in the society today, noting that the narrative on sex is also changing.
According to her “most mistakes young people make today are sexually related, that is why it has become necessary to let them know about the dangers of premarital sex in a bid to help protect their destinies”.
Dr. Banigo who disclosed that 12 girls drawn from the Assemblies of God Church are being mentored in the sciences, noted that she was passionate about the Girl Child and passionate about protecting the rights of girls and women, stressing that the exercise would be replicated in other schools.
A medical practitioner Dr. Ovundah Nyeche who spoke on the theme “Sex The Naked Truth” and a counsellor Dr. (Mrs.) Chinelo Ugwu who spoke on the “Psychological Consequences of Early Sexual Relationship” insisted that sex must be within the confines of marriage and advised the girls to abstain from illicit sex and concentrate on their studies.
Miss Doreen Silas Dikibo, Miss Dagde Kenneth Ewonubari, Miss Princewill Boma and Miss Ibem Chinecherem Blessing, who were amongst the over 1,300 students who participated in the programme expressed delight for the knowledge they gained.
Pastor Chris Onyeoma of the Royal Diadem Church who led the students to Christ identified seeking God early as a solution to the problem of early sexual relationship.
The Director, Principal of FGGC Abuloma Dr. (Mrs) Hilda Onyekwere had earlier thanked the Deputy Governor for finding her students worthy to be trained.
Presentation of books, musical performance by the students as well as counselling sessions were highlights of the occasion.
