By Adadioramma Eze
As part of her plans to checkmate the prevalent girl-child sex abuse, and other social ills that negate the lives of youths and affect society, the Excellent Ladies of Valour and Steel (ELOVAS) Foundation Awka Zone 2, has advised students against falling prey to the menace of sexual harassment, drug abuse, cultism and their like, lest they ruin their future.
The Foundation gave the advice to the students during her 2019 School Outreach Programme at Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka South LGA, Anambra State, on November 7.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary General, ELOVAS Foundation International, Lady Ifeoma Ezenyilimba, said the School Outreach Programme, with the theme: “Sensitization of Youths on Prevalent Social Issues Affecting Society”, was in line with the Foundation’s Mission Statement of touching lives.
The Secretary General explained that ELOVAS Foundation International was an NGO, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), whose sole objective was to promote Child Education and Youth Empowerment.
Sensitizing the students of the co-educational school, a member of the Foundation, Lady Joy Obiekwe, stressed the importance of sex education to every growing child. Lady Obiekwe, who decried what she described as the high rate of girl-child sexual abuse in society, urged the female students to always say no to such harassment, avoid occasions that led to sexual abuse, as well as open up over any form of sexual harassment so as to curb the ill, prevent being raped and avoid unwanted pregnancy. Obiekwe reminded them that unwanted pregnancy would cause them to drop out from school and negatively affect their future.
She advised them against engaging in drug abuse, cultism and cult activities, saying that such endangered an individual. According to Lady Obiekwe, dangers of drug abuse included psychological disorder and insanity which would lead to end to one’s education.
For her part, the Coordinator, ELOVAS Foundation, Awka Zone 2, Lady Nneka Onuora, who spoke on obedience, urged the students and other youths to spend their lives in obedience to God, their parents, their elders and constituted authority. She noted that obedience was a worthwhile virtue, and that an obedient individual would always enjoy the rewards.
The Foundation at the programme, gave out gifts of ELOVAS’ customized exercise books, biscuits and soft drinks to the students and teachers.
In her speech, the Dean, Students’ Affairs of Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Mrs Odili, appreciated the Foundation for what she described as the group’s show of goodwill, and for having made some good impacts in the lives of the students. Mrs Odili, who received the Foundation on behalf of the school principal, described ELOVAS as a Noble Foundation.
