By Our Reporter
Stakeholders in the education sector and CSOs have applauded the introduction and passage for second reading, a Bill seeking mandatory inclusion of preventive teachings and conceptual appreciation on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) into the curriculum of secondary schools, at the House of Representatives.
In a statement, the stakeholders observed that when passed into law, the bill will provide a platform that will sustainably tackle the increasing issues of sexual and gender-based violence and its related offenses, in Nigeria.
They commended the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, representing Owan Federal Constituency, for introducing and sponsoring the Bill.
More commendable is the effort of a young lawyer; Ms. Vivian Obinwa, the OCI Foundation Legal Research Assistant and National Assembly Liaison Officer; who is passionate about Child/Women Protection and Development; Social Justice and a Sustainable Development enthusiast, who initiated the Bill.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Ms. Obinwa, said she was inspired by the results and feedback from several schools and community advocacy and sensitization programs she had personally championed in the past and as a volunteer for organisations such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, Abuja, Child and Youth Protection Foundation (CYPF).
Majorly inspired by the need for a more sustainable, preventive, wide reaching and non-sexist approach to tackling SGBV issues other than the usual curative and victim/survivor based approach. Thus; the need to for this Bill to become a law.
The SGBV Bill is the second legislation that has been successfully pushed through this stage by the OCI Foundation, an international (Australian-Nigerian) NGO that promotes Health, Education, and Social/Public Welfare among Nigerians.
The First Bill, which also passed through the Second Reading in July 2022, seeks to include teachings against breast and cervical cancers into the curriculum of all senior secondary schools in Nigeria, successfully, has gone through second reading in the House of Representatives.
