The visit of members of the the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria Abuja branch to LEA Primary School Gwagwa, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) not only caused excitement among the students and teachers on 29th of May 2024, but came with a lot of enlightenment.
The visit according to the school’s the Assistant Head Teacher, Mr. Yahaya Musa could not have come at a better time as the school “is majorly populated by maids who suffer various forms of abuse.”
A report shared by the FIDA Abuja Publicity Secretary, Olosen Victoria Ibiezugbe explained that the visit led by the Chairperson, Chibuzo M. Nwosu was organized to celebrate with the school children on their Day.
Accompanied by other FIDAns, Ms. Nwosu introduced the branch and its core mandate to the Head Teacher, teachers and students of the school who had never heard about FIDA.
Enlightening the children on key provisions of the VAPP Act 2015 and Child Rights Act 2003 respectively, she spoke extensively on Physical Injury; Rape and Bullying, while informing them of their right against physical injury, psychological and emotional abuse.
She charged them to desist from bullying one another and also exposed the young minds to private areas of the body which should not be violated. Nwosu then urged the children to report any act of abuse to their parents, teachers, pastors, imam and gave them the contact address and phone number of FIDA.
The Publicity Secretary on the other hand, enlightened the children on some of the provisions of the Child Rights Act 2003. She informed them of their right to compulsory education, adding that they have the right to study free from financial hindrances, especially as the government has made education free at the primary to junior secondary school level, as provided by the Act.
She also spoke to the children about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation and their rights against injury to their bodies viz-a-viz the age long practice of inscribing tribal marks on young vulnerable children which contravene the Child Rights Act. She further enjoined the children to report any infringement on their rights to the school authority.
In appreciation, the Assistant Head Teacher, Mr. Yahaya Musa, thanked FIDA for the enlightening visit as they had no knowledge about FIDA and her works. According to him “this visit could not have come at a better time, especially when the school is majorly populated by maids who suffer various forms of abuse”. While noting the privilege to be associated with the FIDA family moving forward, the Assistant Head Teacher promised to contact FIDA in the event of an emergency.
The visit took a momentous turn as students who answered brilliantly, questions posed at them by the Chairperson, were presented with gift items in the spirit of the celebration. Other children were not left out as they also received gift items from the branch, items such as Note Books, Water Bottles, Pencil Holders, Biros, Erasers, Sharpeners, Snacks and other writing materials.
Copies of the VAPP Act, Child Rights Act and FIDA flyers were also presented to the school authority.
