The Ondo State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani has admonished corps members to protect and preserve their dignity under any circumstance.
The State Coordinator gave the admonition at a Gender Forum organised for the 2022 Batch 'C' (Stream II) corps members held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State.
The Forum which was held separately for female and male corps members harped on several sensitive matters relating to relationship with the opposite sex.
Mrs. Ani said that the management of NYSC in the state resolved to engage in a discourse relating to the topic with corps members so that they have requisite knowledge when embarking on sensitisation of co-habitation during the service year.
According to the State Coordinator, the sensitisation will equally assist the corps participants to be in a better position to ward off any aggression from the opposite sex that may want to take advantage of them.
"My distinguished corps members, the online space is awash with sexual-related violence of which rape has taken an alarming dimensions and as a responsible corporate entity, we find it exigent to protect you because you are our future and we cannot afford to toy with your precious lives and your future.
The NYSC Ondo State boss said that the Scheme decided to fashion out better ways apart from listening to jingles on radio and television to address the recurrent menace.
She advised the corps members to see the forum as an intellectual gathering where candid opinion are expressed in a more mature and responsible manner.
The amiable administrator while enjoining the members of the service corps to leverage on the discourse to wage total war on sexual violence appreciated the corps members for listening with rapt attention to the discussants who are men and women of impeccable characters in the Scheme.
Speaking to the male corps members, the consortium of management staff led by Assistant Directors, Messrs Thaddeus Idalu, PRS and Babawale Oyinloye Owolabi, Deployment and Relocation charged the corps members to see themselves as social influencers that must live above board in all areas of their lives.
They agreed that human nature may want to give-in to innate randy desires but restraint and self discipline should be employed in dealing with such desires so that great destinies will not be truncated because of few minutes enjoyment.
They disclosed that one in every three female suffered sexual violence while the statistical data and research showed that one out of thirteen males had at one time or the other experienced sexual violence.
The team charged the male folk to control their urge for sexual romp so that their life would not be cut short or future destinies truncated.
The NYSC Ondo State adopted-Counsellors are of the opinion that if male folks who are regarded as culprits can bury their randiness and have utmost regard for the opposite sex, then the scourge of sexual related violence would abate.
They advised them to dissipate their youthful energies to productive ventures that would make the society see them as disciplined and responsible individuals.
On her part, the Leader of the Female session tagged 'Time Out' who also is the Camp Director, Mrs. Adejoke Ayodele Fashola while addressing the female corps members asserted that dressing inappropriately is an invitation to sexual violence and advised them to dress responsibly at all times.
Mrs. Fashola asserted that sexual violence is often caused by very close or intimate family members who have the trust of the victim but advised victims to seek help by speaking out and not die in silence or have fear of stigmatisation.
"As enlightened members of the society, you should be able to help reduce the sexual violence in our society such that you will embark on aggressive sensitisation within your host communities and educational institutions. You have a positive role to play and you should stand up to protect fellow female folks".
She warned them against passing advances at men or being at flashpoints as well as night clubs at odd hours as this could tempt the opposite sex to take undue advantage of them and this may have negative Impact on their future.
The team which comprised the Resident Officer 1, Mrs. Oluchi Ogundele, Pastor Mrs. Olubunmi Ayodele, Pastor Mrs. Jennifer Funmilola Dawodu, Dr. Mrs. Oluwafunbi Oluwafemi and the Gender Desk Schedule Officer, Mrs. Ebunoluwa Omolola Awodunmila appealed to the female corps members to take their personal hygiene serious.
They said if they improve on their personal hygiene and keep their surroundings neat and tidy, they would be free from diseases and sicknesses.
Some corps members who pleaded for anonymity said that the forum had opened their eyes to things they have been taking for granted and they appealed to the NYSC management to incorporate such advocacy and sensitisation in the orientation course content.
They all agreed that the programme is highly educative and an eye opener to a national issue they have been lackadaisical about and treating with kid's glove because they are not in any way affected.
They promised to take the advocacy and sensitisation to all the nooks and crannies of Ondo, the Sunshine State as soon as they are posted to various communities for their primary assignment.
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