The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has enlisted the support of youths in Bayelsa State in its campaign against child and women abuse in the society.

Some 180 youths drawn from the Niger Delta states of Imo, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa are participating in a training programme with the theme: ‘The Fight against Children and Women Abuse: A Task for All Muslims’ in Yenagoa.

The four-day holiday programme organised for youths by FOMWAN is holding at the Bishop Dimieri Grammar School, Ovom, in Yenagoa the State capital.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event on Thursday, Prof. Isa Ibrahim, Chairman of the occasion noted that children and women are tender and must be treated with utmost care, attention and love.

Ibrahim, a don at the Niger Delta Teaching Hospital in Bayelsa, encouraged parents to invest in the education of their children as it an integral part of their care.

He advised mothers to be observant and allow their children talk to them rather than reproach them in order to detect any form of abuse cases.

According to him, in the Islamic tradition the best of Muslims are those who are kind to young ones and women.

In her lecture, Dr. Qaabilah Lawal, a medical practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa describes abuse as both physical and emotional, emphasising that, those who often exploit these young ones are often relatives or close friends of the family.

Lawal urged parents to properly inform and educate their children on what constitutes abuse s well as encourage them report it.

She urged parents not to quarrel or argue in the presence of their children as it is a form of emotional abuse. This could constitute dangers in their growth and well being undermining their self worth.

Also speaking on topic titled ‘Legal Remedies for Victims of Abuse’, Barr. Kamalideen Adekilekun assured that there was legal remedies for victims of abuse under the legal system to protect children and women.

Adekilekun urged victims of rape to report incidence of abuse as many cases of violation are unreported due to the associated stigma.

Speaking on ‘The Future Youth’, the Chief Imam of Nigeria Navy School, Port Harcourt, Sheik Sikirullah Adekilekun, said the future belongs to the knowledgeable as the modern world is knowledge-driven.

The cleric advised participants to seek knowledge to secure a place of honour for themselves in the future.

He also urged them to shun extremism and other conducts that undermine personal security and public safety.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the chairperson of the organising committee of the FOMWAN South-South Youth Forum camp, Haija Abimbola Bakare, commended the participants for their interest the programme.

Abimbola Bakare urged them to use the camping period to acquire skills and tips on how to prevent abuses and applauded donors who supported the association to host the holiday youth camp.

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