EBONYI
The European Union-United Nations (EU-UN) Spotlight Initiative has concluded training of 48 adolescent girls on life skills towards elimination of violence against women and girls in Onicha Local government area of Ebonyi.
The three-day training organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ebonyi Directorate with support from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and UNICEF was held in Onicha-Igboeze.
The UNICEF Desk Officer with NOA, Mr. Uchenna Unah told newsmen after the training on Saturday, that the girls were trained on life skills to become change agents toward ending all forms of violence against women and girls in the area.
Unah said the training targeted the girls on how to tackle violence against them from men including assault, sexual harassment, and all forms of ill-treatment.
“This is a three-day program and we rounded it up today. We trained adolescent girls on life skills and other skills they need to survive in life.
“Life skills include, refusal skills, acceptable and capacity to stand and face challenges in any given period in the society.
“The participants were selected from the eight communities that made up Onicha local government area in Ebonyi.
“They have been trained on how to talk to their peers and that is what we called peer education. We expect them to also talk to their peers when they go back,” he added.
Dr. Desmond Onwo, NOA Director in Ebonyi, who was represented by Mr. Victor Okike said the Agency has been up and doing on a campaign towards ending all forms of violence in the state.
One said that various groups have been trained in categories in Ebonyi Councils including Ohaozara, Abakaliki, Ezza-South, Onicha, and Afikpo amongst others.
He urged the traditional rulers, community heads, and women leaders to do away with such harmful practices and cultures that are not good for society.
“We have been working hard to strengthen the campaign in all communities and we are making a lot of success.
“We have been meeting with the traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups, surveillance groups, and the youth for the elimination of those harmful social norms around GBV, Child Marriage, and FGM in Ebonyi State,” he added.
Mrs. Ijeoma Mike-Ajanwachukwu, the representative of the Ebonyi Ministry of Justice, also called for the need to protect the rights of women and girls in society.
She described the event as necessary as they have been equipped with skills on how to communicate on issues, including the use of body language.
“They have learned a lot on how to protect themselves to end the violence against them. You know, not sending a girl to school is violence against the girl and a violation of the law.
“There is a need to abolish early marriage and child labor in society,” she said.
The Facilitators, Idara Effiong and Asari Nakanda said the training was successful and commended EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and UNICEF on the program.
They expressed optimism that the girls have been equipped with the necessary life skills they need to survive in society.
A participant, Divine Moses, a Junior Secondary School 1, also thanked both NOA and the International organizations for bringing up the program and promised to utilize the knowledge she acquired from the program.