Education District VI has organised a one-day awareness seminar on Sexual Abuse and Child Trafficking for female secondary school students across its three zones, as part of efforts to promote safer school environments.
Eko Hot News reports that the seminar, themed “Your Safety, Your Voice: Building a School Community Free from Abuse,” was designed to equip young girls with practical knowledge, confidence, and skills to protect themselves and their peers from abuse and exploitation.
In her opening address, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District VI, Mrs Mojisola Christiana Yusuff, described the participants as ambassadors of their schools. She urged them to share lessons learnt with fellow students to extend the programme’s impact beyond the seminar hall.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, encouraged the girls to speak out against inappropriate behaviour.
She warned that silence could be misinterpreted as consent, urging students to protect their dreams by finding and using their voices.
A presentation by Mrs Elizabeth Ajeseni of the Lagos Office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) highlighted the dangers of child trafficking, including loss of freedom, abuse, health risks, and shattered aspirations.
She cautioned students against deceptive offers of jobs or scholarships often used by traffickers.
Social impact advocate, Dr Joy Kounasso, emphasised the importance of setting boundaries and understanding safety in physical, emotional, and environmental contexts. She advised students to trust their instincts and speak up when situations feel unsafe.
Also speaking, social work professional, Dr Oluwatoyin Kotun, outlined warning signs of abuse such as sudden mood changes, withdrawal, declining academic performance, and frequent conflicts. She noted that clear boundaries promote self-respect, responsibility, and positive decision-making.
Education District VI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding students and building school communities where every child’s voice is heard and protected.
