By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The Nigerian girl child is exceptional with a distinctive voice and amazing creative ability. As such, families have been urged to educate the boy child more on respecting girls. Well trained boys with good mental health will not molest girls.
This was made known during the screening of the movie ‘Radio Girl’ which is dedicated to celebration of the International Girl Child Day organised by Nollycafé and Oórun media on Tuesday in Abuja.
The producer/director of the movie, Radio Girl, Dede Oji called on parents to channel more energy on educating and building the mental capacity of the boy child which is crucial because well trained and mentally sound boy child will not molest their female counterparts. He says the society have invested so much energy and time on educating and training the girl child leaving behind the boy child.
Dede said,” While discussion with a friend an incident came up where she spoke about knowing how to speak good English by listening to the Radio. It resonated with me somehow along the line because she talked about molestation and why she left her country to come and live in Nigeria. I figured that something is wrong, what could she have gone through ‘molestation’ that was the birth of the story ‘Radio Girl’.
” One thing that moves girls in situations of rape is been afraid of the stigma. The victims inability to speak up about the molester tampers more with the whole idea. This is the story of the character Dooshima in Radio Girl, she was supposed to be outspoken but you could see she’s hiding something towards the end of the story. It resonates with virtually every girl in this sphere, please speak out.”
Esther Suleiman, pharmacist, the University College Hospital Ibadan, movie reviewer stated that she was touched at the point the lawyer was ready to stand for Dooshima despite she could not afford the fee.
“I have seen cases where victims and families want to talk about rape but can’t afford it while others can afford it but fear of stigmatisation will not let them. Before anything, go to the hospital get medical evidences and report to the police also. Even if you cannot follow up the case immediately for lack of money, report and when you are ready go back and open the record.”
Another reviewer, Benjamin Obasi, ED Administration, Every Life Matters Humanitarian Foundation (Elimh), said the girl child tends to emulate easily from what she sees. Government should look into taking more women into politics, then they will create more models that will give the girl child hope to dream and aspire for a better life.
” I learnt from the movie, a person can never be more powerful than the truth, the truth will always win. It was Dooshima truth that helped her to win the case.
