Stakeholders have again underscored the need for serious steps to be taken to address child abuse as it remains a serious and life-threatening issue just as they called on relevant authorities to take steps before the menace escalate further.
Giving a presentation on Restoration Of The Dignity Of Womanhood (ROTDOW) children stakeholders platform, a weekly webinar organised to discuss and give solutions to issues affecting children, the former state chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) Rev. Ayo Oladapo enjoined the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police to take steps to check the trend of fraud through increased collaboration with banks, rather than leave the duty to the regular police officers, who are ill-equipped to curb the menace so that Nigeria do not continually breed a generation of scammers.
Rev. Oladapo who expressed worry over the rate of money ritual, killings among youth in the recent time said such barbaric behaviours are a consequence of parental failures, collapsed values system, bad influence of Nollywood films and politicians as well as economic challenges stressing that parents most especially must begin to emphasize the value for hard work and right family values such as faithfulness, persistence, courage, honesty in order to promote right ideologies just as he charged government to create conducive environment for youth to thrive.
“In recent times and with the coming of the Internet system, Nigerian youths especially, the undergraduates, have taken to the illicit trade called Internet scam. Investigations reveal that this development is responsible for drastic reduction in cultism in the higher institutions, as it has been overshadowed by widespread cyber fraud.
Yahoo Yahoo, Yahoo Plus, Wire Wire and Alibaba are the multimillionaire illicit businesses that yield money for undergraduates these days. The Guardian investigation shows that 90 per cent of students who own exotic cars and live large within and outside campuses are involved in the internet scam.
Some have even published books, manuals and tapes on tips to start the yahoo business, tools needed and where to go, and these are selling like hot cake among the country’s youth”, he added urging relevant stakeholders to hold abusers accountable for their actions in order to deter others.
Rev. Oladapo also used the opportunity to explore types of Child Abuse which include sexual abuse, physical abuse, Emotional abuse and Neglect just as he recommended ways to help an abused children get out of the menace.
Also making her remarks, Mrs. Adenike Fatogun said there is the need for everyone to add fear of God, character moulding, perseverance just as she charged goverment to pay salaries of teachers promptly so that they will not relent in doing their parts.
Making his own contributions, Mr. Oludele Ogundele called for implementation of existing legislations such as child rights law, anti child trafficking among others just as the CEO, ROTDOW, Mrs. Olabisi Omolona employed everyone to be their brother’s keeper.
“If you see something, say something. For us to have a better world and worthwhile future generation, all hands must be on deck to put an end to all the ills in the society”, Mrs. Omolona further stressed.
