The corps members of WOTCLEF Vanguard of NYSC, Oyo state arrived at
the Bodija market, Bodija en-masse on Thursday, 3rd of July, 2014
with youthful drive, focus and vision for an awareness walk which is aimed at
sensitizing the market men and women about the perils of women trafficking and
child labour, and most importantly, how to curb it.
Arriving at the
market, the corps members caught the attention of the market sellers with their
message-inspired songs in the Yoruba dialect, they danced to the market secretariat,
where they were welcomed by the Market PRO; Mr. Hakeem Eniola. He expressed his
joy and appreciation of the initiative of the awareness walk by the WOTCLEF
vanguard, and on behalf of the market chairman, he gave the permission to carry
on with the sensitization.
The
Vanguard PRO; Ajayi Olayemi OY/13C/2386, started the sensitization in Yoruba
language, advising and pleading with the market women to send their children to
school, instead of sending them to Lagos as house maids, she informed them that
most of the children sent to Lagos are used as errand girls, having to wake up
as early as 3 am doing menial labour or even jobs as bad as prostitution, drug
smuggling, etc.
The English
speaker; Dada Olufemi OY/14A/2063 also
encouraged the market sellers to send their children to school and try as much
as humanly possible to share love among their children equally and try not to
give preferential treatment to any child, as this can breed hatred among the
children.
While the main
speakers were at the center of the market, the other members of the CD group
went out in twos and threes, talking to the market sellers individually. While
speaking to the market sellers, Aribileje ‘Deshina encouraged the woman he was
chatting with to send her children to public schools if she can’t afford
private schools, because the government has paid for it, and products of public
schools are also making waves in the society. He shared his experience of how
he hawked sachet water as a kid after school in same Bodija market, and here he
is today, a graduate, but he stressed the fact that it was after school and assignments. He also encouraged entrepreneurship,
he however stressed that it is if education is added to handiwork that it
becomes wealth.
Another corps member, Akinola Faith,
OY/14A/2466 advised the men she was chatting with not to beat their wives,
because wife battering breaks the home, makes the wife emotionally broken and
the children are psychologically affected. Faith also advised the women to
enlighten their children, especially the girls to take care of themelves and
not allow any boy or man to touch them in an inappropriate manner, and if
anything out of sorts happen, they should call the right authorities.
The corps members were in the market for over 3 hours, and at last,
when they went back to the market secretariat, the CD PRO, Ajayi Olayemi
wrapped up the awareness walk, she advised the market sellers present to ensure
child birth control, so that they will be able to take care of their kids and
not have to entrust their care to others who may maltreat them.
After the awareness walk, the CD Schedule Officer; Mr. Austin
appreciated all the corps members for their tireless effort in the market,
especially the reporters from Editorial Board. He appreciated the Editorial
Board CD group for their prompt response to cover the event, and a closing
prayer was offered.
Judging from the responses
and prayers of the market sellers, it can the judged that the awareness was a
huge success.
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