INTIMATE issues with Dr Olubusola, an NGO, has recommended early campaigns against domestic violence in secondary schools to sensitise teenagers who were most often victims of such violence.
Dr Olubusola Olufemi, the National Coordinator of the organisation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja in commemoration of International Day of Non-Violence.
Olufemi said this had become paramount due to the increase in cases relating to child abuse, youth violence, communal clashes and domestic violence.
She said such necessitated the need to increase awareness programmes for the younger generation across the country.
“The target for secondary schools is because teenagers are usually the first victims of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence doesn’t start when they become adults because for an abuser the adult does not decide in his heart to commit violence.
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“It is something that has been there since teenage years to adolescence and then adulthood, that is why it has become crucial to take the message to the young ones,’’ she said.
Olufemi noted that cases of domestic violence were enormous and could not be ignored especially where the consequences had grave danger on the society.
According to her, violence in the home is inevitable, however, the occurrence of such violence can be reduced through education, campaign and enlightenment programmes.
She said `bullying and extortion’ were some of the common forms of violence in boarding schools which could later be translated into domestic violence.
She said the common lessons taught by the group in its campaigns included love, counselling for couples and people going through one form of violence including depression and suicide.
Olufemi explained that some of the interventions of the organisation include empowering widows, counselling for teenage pregnant girls, recruiting counsellors to take the campaign to more schools in Nigeria.
She said the group aims at building a strong community to impact, develop and empower men, women and youths who would grow, mature and become responsible members of their communities.
“The foundation has a triangle of hope which stands for Reconciling, Impacting and Building.
“Reconciling through our guidance and counselling programmes, impacting through our charity outreach, and mentoring and building through our training and teaching programmes.
“The team also hopes to train, develop and empower individuals that no matter where they are, healing and happiness can be achieved even from the deepest wounds.
“We want to see more intimate couples who are happy raising responsible children in the society,’’ she added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group started on Facebook in 2012 with about 15,000 members around the world.
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