In a proactive move, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, the First Lady of Ekiti State,has advocated for the implementation of effective Gender Desk officers in all public schools to tackle the alarming issue of sexual abuse among students while ensuring stringent enforcement of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prohibition laws.
During an interactive session at Mary Immaculate Grammar School, Ado Ekiti, as part of the Baoress Interface With Adolescents Project (BIWAP), Dr. Oyebanji emphasized the need for Gender Desks manned by trained personnel in every school. These officers would offer support and counseling to students, aligning with the Ekiti State GBV (Prohibition) Law 2019.
The First Lady urged education authorities to conduct thorough background checks on teachers, underlining the importance of preventing innocent students from falling victim to sexual abuse within the school environment.
As a gesture of motivation, Dr. Oyebanji distributed brand new schoolbags to participants and pledged the state government’s unwavering commitment to invoking and enforcing laws against GBV. She called on students to break their silence, emphasizing that speaking up is crucial for justice to prevail.
Highlighting the diverse perpetrators of GBV, including familiar figures like parents, teachers, and neighbors, the First Lady outlined penalties under the Ekiti State GBV (Prohibition) Law 2019. She stressed that the government will not tolerate the spread of such offenses and is determined to curb them effectively.
Dr. Oyebanji encouraged students to focus on personal development, grow their talents, and acquire vocational skills. Emphasizing the shift from traditional career paths, she shared her personal journey from growing up in Ado Ekiti to becoming a Ph.D. holder and a senior university academic before assuming the role of First Lady.
In closing, the First Lady inspired students to aspire to leadership positions, embrace mentorship, seize every available opportunity for self-development, and overcome challenges to achieve success, irrespective of their backgrounds.
