By Samuel Oyejola
The Country Director of Jose Foundation, Dr. Eunice Ameh-Pius has assured Nigerians that the campaign of against child sexual molestation will remain consistent in the country until all relevant Acts and of the National Assembly are corrected to ensure every child is protected.
Ameh-Pius said this on Thursday at the workshop organised by the Jose foundation in Abuja. The workshop tagged “The Elimination of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Nigeria”, was organized in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The Country Director advised Nigerians to be positive influence on all children in their communities. Stressing further, she said, “You can be an influence, it takes time and money but it is worth it for the betterment of our future. You see children on the street roaming; hawking you can influence them.”
While calling on all stakeholders to synergise in against CSE in the country, she pointed out that the campaign against CSE should not be left for survivors of such abuses alone.
Speaking to Time Nigeria, the President of Precious Heart Initiative, an NGO that advocate for protection of children against sexual molestation, Evangelist May Homa Emma Obi called on parents to teach children right values.
She also advised states to domesticate the child’s Right Act in their various state to stem the increasing trend of child sexual exploitation in the country.
“If the child rights act is domesticated in states, it will help reduce reduce activities of abusers and perpetrators,” She said.
While some states are yet to domesticate the Child’s Rights Act, states like Lagos enacted law that ensures that perpetrators of CSE get life imprisonment.
Recently, Justice Josephine Oyefeso of Lagos State High Court sentenced 35 year-old Okechukwu Nwachukwu to life imprisonment for defiling an eight- year-old.
