- The Daily Crucible
A foundation and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Oyenola Oluwole Foundation (OOF), has staged a peaceful walk in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, against the increasing cases of rape and other gender based violence in the society.
The outdoor exercise tagged "Walk Against Rape and Female Genital Mutilation," also known as Female Circumcision, was aimed at creating awareness against the scourge, which has tripled in number since Covid-19 lockdown.
The Convener of the exercise and founder of the organization, Asiwaju Oyenola Oluwole (Wole Papa) called on the Nigerian government to exercise its political will and legislative powers to eradicate rape and other gender crimes, especially Female Genital Mutilation which has become embarassing cultural practice in the country.
While narrating his personal ordeals with his family, he said "apart from the denigration of human dignity and existence, the stigma that follows this despicable act is always a lasting scar, difficult to erase or wipe away, because of the continual psychological trauma."
Citing statistics from the Nigeria Police, Oluwole said 717 rape cases have been reported from across the country between January and May this year.
He added that even the UNICEF statistics confirmed that one in four girls experienced sexual violence before the age of 18 while in some cases, these despicable acts resulted in the murder of the victims by the perpetrators.
He noted that the Foundation and NGO decided to lend their voices against rape and other sexual crimes, through means that would be safe and also accessible to everyone to hear their voices at this time under strict observation of the social distancing rules for outdoor events.
"Indeed, rape is a crime, it is traumatizing and we called on the Federal Government for stricter measures against rapists in Nigeria," Oluwole said
He said that women were more vulnerable to sexual crimes than men, noting that sexual violence reflects and reinforces existing gender inequalities.
It would be recalled that Oyenola Oluwole Foundation was established with the objective of campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation, Rape, Domestic Violence and every form of Social Vices that devalues human dignity.
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and Asiwaju Oyenola Oluwole (Wole Papa), The Convener and Founder of the Oyenola Oluwole Foundation (OOF), during a walk and outdoor exercise campaign against Rape and Female Genital Mutilation, organized by the Oyenola Oluwole Foundation, held at Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
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