BluePrint News – (OCI) Foundation inspired SGBV Bill goes through public hearing (October 11, 2022)

(OCI) Foundation inspired SGBV Bill goes through public hearing (Oct 11, 2022)

Source: Blueprint News (22/02/2022)

The Anti-Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Bill which is the second legislative Bill inspired by International Non-governmental Organization, the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation has gone through public hearing.

The Bill, had already scaled through First reading in March 31 and Second Reading July 27, 2022.

The Bill seeks to introduce preventive measures and teachings of SGBV into the civic education curriculum of all secondary schools in Nigeria (JSS 1 to SSS 1).

The Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Professor Julius Ihonvbere, while speaking in Abuja, during the two-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Healthcare Services at the National Assembly said, “the Bill will help address cancer related issues in Nigeria”.

Professor Ihonvbere is a co- sponsor of the bill and the member representing the Owan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

“The Bill for an act to introduce Preventive Measures and Teachings of Anti-Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) into the Civic Education Curriculum of all Secondary Schools in Nigeria will help address cancer related issues in Nigeria,” he stated.

According to Ihonvbere, “This has already passed through a public hearing, am sure when it gets to the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, Breast, Cervical, Prostrate and other types of cancer will be included. The most important thing is that it’s included in the school curriculum”.

Earlier, the OCI Foundation’s National Assembly Liaison Officer, Barrister Vivian Obinwa, explained that the Foundation was proposing innovative ideas towards sustainable ways of solving challenges in Nigeria.

Obinwa noted that, “OCI Foundation started with scholarships, skills acquisitions to Youths, adding that the Bill idea was to to educate and enlighten young people early on the importance of prevention.

“…But we are championing the idea of introducing the teachings of cancers into an already existing subject, Civic Education in Secondary schools. This will provide an opportunity for Youths in both public and private schools. It will be preventive”.