The Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has trained counsellors in schools of disability, in order to promote inclusive education and address the unique needs of students with disabilities,

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, in her keynote address at the two-day capacity building programme for counsellors in the schools of disabilities on comprehensive sexuality education, held at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

She said that it was imperative to enhance better relationships and equip students with disabilities knowledge and support that would inform decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Adeleye stressed that knowledge of sexuality education was crucial for the students to understand their rights, body anatomy, and health, as well as enabling them to make informed decisions that would enhance their lives, saying that the impact of the conversations would shape healthy relationships, builds self-esteem, and most importantly, promotes a culture of respect for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

The Commissioner noted that the state government was determined at ensuring that students with disabilities receive the support and resources, prioritising inclusive education towards creating a more equitable and empowering learning environment for all students.

??This training will create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that fosters academic success, social integration, and emotional well-being for the students, hoping that what is being impacted to counselors here will be transferred to the students to prevent them from sexual abuse and exploitation??, she noted.

Earlier in her address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Adejumoke Adewole, said the significant of the training was to equip the counselors with tools and knowledge necessary to champion comprehensive sexually education in schools, to enable the students understand their bodies, make informed decisions and recognise their rights, for them to be treated with dignity and respect in the society.

In her lecture, a facilitator, Mrs. Bosede Oderinde stated that the training was to re-orientate the counsellors on expected teaching methodology that would address issues of students living with disabilities being the most vulnerable of sexual abuse, advising participants to make a difference in the lives of the students for them to make informed decisions.

Responding, two of the participants, Mr. Micheal Aiyenero and Mrs. Rafiat Akinlabi appreciated organiser of the training, promising to use strategies and knowledge acquired to make the students to be more conscious of themselves and guide against all forms of abuses.

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