NAWOJ Deputy Welcomes Risk Communication Club

The National Deputy President of Nigeria Association Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Lilian Okonkwo-Ogagbu, has said that the establishment and inauguration of Risk communication clubs in schools in the state was a welcome development.
Okonkwo-Ogagbu said this in a telephone chat with The Tide after the inauguration of Risk Communication Club in Schools in Port Harcourt recently.
The Tide gathered that the event was anchored by UNICEF and other International bodies in partnership with Rivers state Government while NAWOJ national would serve as Implementing Partner.
The NAWOJ second-in-command noted that the aim of the inauguration was to enable victims and others to speak out in the event of any challenge.
She said that part of the challenge of victims was how to ventilate their plights and added that the inauguration of the Risk Communication Club in Schools in the state would improve the situation.
According to her, the inauguration of the club would also address the issue of high cases of abuse and violence against under age school children in the state.
She further described coronavirus pandemic era as worst, and hinted that victims and their abusers were locked down under same roof.
“The coronavirus pande-mic also made it worse and many victims were locked down with their abusers. And so there is need to galvanize efforts aimed at building champions and ambassador that will carry the van-guard of risk communication massages  in and out of schools”, she said.
As an Implementing Partner, she said that NAWOJ has adjusted properly to enable it carry out the task of training and educating students to imbibe the confidence and self-esteem to stand against all social vices.
“In this case, there is need to ensure that public, private secondary schools in the 23 LGAs are well sensitised and the children empowered with risk information on Riskcom,” she said.
The NAWOJAN who reiterated the stance of the group to stand against violence, said they would continue to push until violence against under age school children and others, nose dive.
The Tide recalled that violence against under age people especially women and girl child was on the increase during the lock down period.

By: King Onunwor