News
Banigo Unveils Protect Girl Child Peer Group Club
Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has said that the fight against gender-based violence or sexual abuse cannot be won without bringing the boys on board.
Banigo stated this during the inauguration of the Protect the Girl Child Initiative Peer Group Club on Sexual Violence at the Federal Government College in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Represented by her Senior Special Assistant on General Duties and the Coordinator of the Protect the Girl Child Initiative programme in her office, Barrister Inegogo Fubara, Banigo said “We cannot successfully end this fight against gender-based violence or sexual abuse without bringing the boys on board. We know the perpetrators mainly are boys, but the boys also are victims of sexual abuse, so, we thought it wise to start the Protect the Girl Child Initiative Peer Group Club.
“This is the first one; we decided to come to Federal Government College, which is a Unity School.So, you all are lucky to be part of something that is going to be really great. We plan to start up this club in other schools but, have started with this FGC PH. By engaging you boys, we believe that issues that have to do with consent, issues of communication and rape, all those issues of sexual abuse require not only the female gender but also the male”.
Banigo disclosed that the Peer Group Club was borne out of her desire to have a one-on-one talk with the children, from the fallout of the seminar she organised last year on mental health and child abuse, adding that it was important to have a one-on-one interaction with the children on issues relating to child abuse.
She noted that it was called Protect the Girl Child Initiative, but added that boys were encouraged to join the club whose president and vice president were male.
According to the deputy governor, boys were encouraged to join because the fight to end sex abuse and gender-based violence cannot be successful without bringing the boys on board.
“We know the perpetrators mainly are boys but the boys are also victims of sexual abuse. So, we thought it wise to start the Protect the Girl Child Initiative Peer Group Club at the Federal Government College which is a unity school.So, you all are lucky to be part of something that is going to be really great.We plan to start up this club in other schools but have started with this one”, she further stressed.
In her presentation, the Resource Person, Mrs. Onyiye Ananaba said “globally one out of three women experience sexual violence.If we have 60million people within a space, at least, 20million, which represents 23 -36percent would experience unwanted sex with an intimate partner”.
She noted that approximately 20percent of women and 5 to 10percent of men in the world were reported to have been survivors of sexual violence at infancy.
According to her, 150million girls and seven million boys experience sexual violence globally.
Highlight of the occasion was the inauguration of an eight-man executive of the club headed by Master Alex-Igbarima Golden, an SS3 student.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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