By Usman Aliyu
The Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) has trained no fewer than 100 female athletes from across Nigeria on leadership and self-defence against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), in Benin.
The training, organised by the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), began on Oct. 31 and ended on Nov. 1.
The training, which is the 4th edition of the programme, focuses on “sports as a tool for empowerment and protection.”
The participants were drawn from Abia, Cross River, Delta, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, and Ekiti,
Mr Tony Eleme, YEF Programme Officer, said the foundation used sports to empower girls with confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills while raising awareness about GBV.
“We believe that when the girl-child is empowered, the whole nation is empowered.
“GBV is rising, we felt it was important to help girls defend themselves, stay confident, and recognise when they are being abused,” Eleme said.
He added that beyond physical defence, the training would help girls identify and report instances of abuse they may not have recognised.
“Sometimes, these girls are exploited without even realising it.
“Through sports and education, we’re building their awareness and resilience,” he said.
Dr Nosakhare Erumwunse, Edo Coordinator of the Child Protection Network Nigeria, described GBV as a crisis affecting both genders.
He, however, acknowledged that women and girls remained disproportionately impacted by over 70 per cent.
“A girl who has learned Taekwondo is less likely to be raped because she knows how to defend herself and disarm an attacker,” Erumwunse said.
He cautioned the athletes against using the skills to engage in unnecessary fights, urging them to embrace discipline and focus on competence.
“Your relevance depends on your competence.
“Let your skill, not aggression, define your worth,” he advised. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Joe Idika
