VAPP Law: Stakeholder Hinges on More Awareness

For the violence against person prohibition, VAPP, law to be effective in Oyo State, there must be a creative and deliberate sensitization approach to make the people aware of its content and provisions.

A counselling psychologist, Mrs Ibukunoluwa Otesile made this known at a sensitization programme and speech contest organized for secondary school students within Ibadan.

Mrs Otesile said with the information gathered from field assessment of the VAPP law, it was observed that many people are not aware of the law or its contents which had made implementation an herculean task.

Mrs Otesile advised government to engage stakeholders and mainstream the awareness campaign, involving the entertainment industry, include in schools extra curriculum activities and debate of public speaking contests, saying it would go a long way at reaching more people

While emphasizing the need for everyone to get involved at ending any form of gender based violence in the society, Mrs Otesile said the violence against person prohibition law must be embraced by all.

The counseling psychologist also expressed worry over continued exposure of children to pornographic content, disclosing that research has shown that this act has direct impact in shaping the improper sexual behavior of the adolescents.

Also speaking on this year’s International Day of the Boy Child celebrated on the 16th of May every year, Mrs Otesile described both the boys and girls as equal and as such boys should not be neglected or abuse.

She said every child deserves to be nurtured and protected.

Another Stakeholder, Mr Olajide Adesina said it was obvious that many people violated the law because they were not informed of the content and provisions of VAPP laws.

Mr Adesina said street hawking and denial to access formal education for children formed part of the abuses which the law has addressed.

Meanwhile, at the end of the contest, Badejo Oluwadamilola of Queens School Apata got the first prize while Amao Aishat of Abadina College, Ibadan came second and Duru Chika from Orogun Grammar School, came third.

Mosope Kehinde