THERE was a reason to celebrate in the advocacy community on October 25, 2023 when a Lagos S*xual Offences and Domestic Violence Court judge sentenced Femi Olaleye, a medical doctor, to life in jail for grooming and raping his wife’s 16 year-old niece for a period of about a year with the threat that she would die if she ever revealed his escapades to anyone. Unfortunately, the victim will have to permanently bear the scar and deal with low self-esteem for the rest of her life.
This is what worries 30 years old Abigail Festus, the only daughter of her parents among five siblings, who is pushing hard to create awareness on the issue of s*xual-based violence among school-age girls.
She said the need to help such girls and young women find their voice and speak for themselves led her into the world of advocacy.
An active driver in this process through her FAB Treasure Foundation, which focuses on mental health and hygiene of young women and girls, Abigail believes that the solution to all forms of s*xual violence lies in better enforcement of the existing laws and more enlightenment for potential abuse victims to provide them a safe space.
She opines that courts must fully apply necessary laws because where the punishment does not fit the crime, potential perpetrators will not be deterred from molesting innocent victims.
Her advocacy takes her schools and internally displaced persons camps in both rural and urban communities in the country where she has been able to reach out to about 7,000 women and young girls to educate them on dealing with sexual violence and creating awareness on menstrual health and hygiene.
Abigail is confident that despite the many obstacles yet to be surmounted, progress is being made in the effort to stamp out cases of GBV in Nigeria.
She adds that through efforts like hers, those of other individuals, organizations and advocacy groups, awareness level is increasing among young girls who are encouraged to speak out when abused.
From her assessment, most young girls in Nigeria are now beginning to feel that they are valuable; they are assets with potential, valid dreams and their voice matters.
“We are making progress. We now have women and girls who are ready to speak up when they find themselves in that situation unlike before when they were silent and even protected their abusers because they are scared to call out members of their families. They are now encouraged to speak up. That’s because of the level of progress we have attained,” Abigail noted.
READ ALSO: Decomposing body found near filing station in Ebonyi
