NOA Moves Against Physical Abuse and Neglect, Sensitizes Lagos Communities

With the incidences of violent crimes, rape, kidnapping and girl child abuse as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in partnership with UNICEF on Wednesday the 30^th of September, 2020 held a Community Dialogue session on PHYSICAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT at the Marwa Park, Otto in Mainland Local Government, Spotlight Initiative Focal area.

Welcoming the participants, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Directorate, Mr. Waheed Ishola said that the platform is aimed at bringing major stakeholders within the community together to meet minds and discuss freely the issue of Physical Abuse and Neglect of the girl-child and women within their environment and equally proffer likely solutions to curb such menace. He used the occasion to address the people on the dangers of Open Defecation which had placed the country as number 2 in the world among countries with OD problems. He called on landlords, Community Development Associations to team up and build befitting toilet facilities and the kind they can afford. He further urged the people to continue with the non-pharmaceutical interventions towards flattening the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

On the topic: “Involving Women in Decision Making in the Home”, Evangelist Oriabor R. Israel, representing the CAN chairman Otto Community, said that it is bad not to involve women in decision making in the home because even God the creator man frowns at it. That was why he created women as helpmates to men. A home where both take good decisions oftentimes brings progress. Men, he said, should always involve women in decision making in homes and not to lord it over them. On her part, Mrs. Oladepo Arinela cautioned that civilization is the cause of the problems of not involving women in decision making. Within the community, she said that men would always make reference to things they watch on televisions and movies. Foreign ideas and cultures that have no place in our society are so much embraced by men because it gives them free liberty to do and undo.

Similarly, the woman community leader, Mrs. Babayola Abeni said that most men are wicked that they prefer to listen to the advices of their female friends outside instead of calling their wives to dialogues on family issues. To her, it’s all due to foreign influences and the need to marry more wives.

In his remarks, the spotlight point man for the Otto community, Hon. Esuruosho Akeem said that the major problem of the community is the issue of kidnapping of kids between the ages of 3yrs – 5years. He noted that within the last six months, more than 6 kids had been kidnapped without trace. He called on parents to be more interested in the protection of their children than chasing money (wealth).

Other speakers who shared their experiences at the event were: Imam Abdulhakeem llyas; Mr. Ahmed O. Yusuf; CDA Chairman, Otto Community, Alhaji Tunde Alabe; Imam Ayub Muibideen, Imam-Albarka Unity Mosque and Mrs. Taiwo Mustapha amongst others.

High-point of the event was the distribution of branded T-shirts of Spotlight Initiative to the participants.

CAPTIONS:

PIX: 1. And PIX: 4 (standing Right) The Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Directorate, Mr. Waheed Ishola addressing participants at the Community Dialogue session on Physical Abuse and Neglect at the Spotlight Initiative Focal area of Otto in Mainland Local Government of Lagos State on Wednesday 30^th September, 2020.

PIX: 2 (Left) Woman Community Leader, Mrs. Babayole Abeni sharing an experience on the issue of Physical Abuse and Neglect at the community dialogue session held in Otto, Mainland Local Government of Lagos State on Wednesday 30^th September, 2020.

PIX: 3 Picture shows Mrs. Oladepo Arinela sharing an experience and contributing on the issue of “Involving Women in Decision making in the Home” at the Community Dialogue Session on Physical Abuse and Neglect of NOA and UNICEF, held on Wednesday 30^th September, 2020.