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The first vice President, West
African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA), Mr Dickson Orji, Wednesday
stressed the need to educate children on problems associated with small arms.
Orji
said this in Abuja at a speak-out session organized by WAANSA in partnership
with Adinya Arise Foundation for secondary school girls, as part of activities
for the 16-days activism against Gender Based Violence.
The
2019 global theme: Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape”.
According
to Orji, to put a stop to this menace, there is need for awareness and
engagements with young people at different level.
“It is
in this wise that WAANSA is partnering with the Adinya Arise foundation to
engage young people to speak out on the theme of the 16 days of activism.
“We are
here today because we are starting a 16 days event to bring to the front burner
the issues of gun based gender violence,’’ he said.
Orji
said that it was easier to prepare the youths to understand these issues than
to repair an adult, adding that some adult are already lost cases.
He said
that the level of cultism in both primary and secondary schools was alarming,
adding that tertiary institutions was now a place where guns flow freely.
“So we
need to begin to teach these young ones properly now that guns do not and will
not solve any problem, instead guns will only endanger them the more.
“If
they grow up with this understanding, then the tendency for them not to carry
guns will be higher,’’ he said.
Orji
said that over the years, issues of gender violence was often referred to
women, adding that it was important to note that the issue of violence cut
across both sexes.
“We are
keen to bring this matter to national discuss, so that issues related to gender
based violence will be addressed at the highest level,’’ he said.
Earlier,
Commander Abimbola Ayuba (rtd), said all hands must be on deck to addressed the
problems of small arms, adding that it required actions at the level of the
United Nations, regional and ECOWAS level.
He said
sensitizing people on the ills of small arms and also finding ways and means of
making sure illicit arms are not brought was of importance.
Mabel
Ade, Executive Director, Adinya Arise Foundation, said young people should understand
the issues on gender based violence so that they would act on it.
“We are
doing this speak-out in schools so that we can begin to get young people to
develop their ability to analyze issues, talk about them and have a voice.
“As
adults we have spoken, no meaningful action is being taken. Let children act
tomorrow, they will have the platform to lead this country and if we start
building their capacity from this stage, when they grow up, they will only
apply what they have been taught,’’ she said.
Ade also
advised parents against buying guns for their children as toys, adding that it
adds no value to a child’s upbringing.
Some
participating students were presented with gifts with a call to speak-out on
gender violence.
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