Miss Ngozi Ugochi-Ugo, the newly appointed aide to Ondo Governor
Rotimi Akeredolu has suggested that girls should learn Taekwando to
tackle potential rapists.
Ngozi made the statement while reacting to the killing of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100 level student of the University of Benin, by her rapists inside the church where she was reading.
She wrote:
“Unfortunately,
this case is just one out of many other cases of rape in Nigeria. Uwa
was not in a bar or walking down the street wearing a short skirt (one
of the many myopic justifications we give for rape occurrence) she was
in the church, reading”, Ngozi wrote.
“If
someone like Uwa can be raped and murdered inside a church building
then what can happen to rest of us?? Unfortunately the world is not safe
and women are even more vulnerable”, she added.
“We
can march all we want chanting justice! Justice! But what happens later
on? After the culprits are apprehended, what happens when another case
of rape and murder rises again, do we pick up our placards and chant
Justice! Justice!
“I am certain
Nigeria will change for the better but what we don’t know is just how
long it’ll take this change to come. How many more people do we have to
lose?? How many more girls have to go through the traumatic experience
that comes with rape?? Just how many more??
“My
take is if the society cannot change for the better to allow women live
long enough to achieve their dreams then we (women) need to change, we
need to be able to protect ourselves or at least have a fighting chance.
“I
was a part of a summer camp: the Bemore summer boot camp, 2019
organised by Her Excellency Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (First Lady of Ondo
State) were over 200 girls were exposed to the basics of taekwondo for
them to be able to at least defend themselves or stall their attackers
long enough to seek external help and these girls were equipped for
life.
“I think taekwondo should
be added to extra curricular activities in our schools, children from
nursery schools should be taught self defence.
“Most
parents frown at the idea of engaging their daughters in taekwondo
because they feel, it would make her more manly and a scarecrow for men.
“Parents can you please give your daughter a fighting chance?????
“Uwa might still be alive today if she had some skills to defend herself.
“It’s so sad.
“Rest in peace Uwa”, Ngozi concluded.
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