Stakeholders Advocate Sustained Measures Against Sexual Exploitation in Schools
By Ekanem Asuquo
Key stakeholders in the education and civil society sectors have called for sustained and strategic efforts to consolidate gains recorded in the campaign against sexual violence in schools.
The call was made in Calabar during a One Day Evaluation and Close Out Session on Sexual Violence Prevention and Response in Academic Institutions. The programme was organized by Project Alert on Violence Against Women in partnership with the Girls’ Power Initiative and supported by the African Women Development Fund.
Speaking at the session, the Executive Director of Project Alert, Dr Josephine Effah Chukwuma, said interventions carried out in seven selected schools have significantly improved awareness and strengthened the capacity of students, teachers and parents to prevent and report sexual abuse. She stressed that while progress has been made, deliberate structures must be put in place to sustain the achievements.
In her welcome address, the representative of Girls’ Power Initiative, Mrs Ndodeye Bassey Obongha, described collaboration among stakeholders as critical to building safe and inclusive learning environments. She noted that coordinated efforts remain essential to addressing sexual exploitation in Cross River State and other vulnerable communities.
Providing background to the initiative, project consultant Dr Glory Eteng explained that the intervention was triggered by the spike in sexual abuse cases during the COVID 19 lockdown, as well as data indicating persistent incidents within the school system. She emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure long term impact.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Safe School and Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Mrs Magdalene Ekpo, commended the organizers for strengthening sexual awareness campaigns across schools. According to her, the initiative has equipped students with knowledge on how to report abuse and preserve evidence, which are crucial for effective case management. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with relevant partners to curb sexual exploitation in educational institutions.
Dr Mary Ogban of Special Education Secondary School, Calabar, expressed appreciation for the KASA Project introduced in her school, noting that the club has helped students identify warning signs, protect themselves and report incidents of harassment.
The Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Private Proprietors of Schools, Mrs Abahi Azuma, urged stakeholders to develop practical frameworks that will sustain the progress achieved and ensure continued protection for students.
Students drawn from selected secondary and tertiary institutions also lauded the initiative and called for sustained policy support, stronger community engagement and collective action to guarantee safer learning spaces across the state.
