As part of its efforts to curtail the increase in gender based violence in the State, the government of the State of Osun has begun teaching women and children self defense skills.
The martial art skill acquisition is open to children from the age of four years, and to women across different ages.
Addressing the journalists during the Inter-ministerial media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, the Honorable Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Barrister Bukola Olaboopo, said the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs was working with the Osun Sports Council and the National Association of Women in Sports on this project.
She said: “The training will be done every weekend by talented coaches who are committed to empowering our women.
“It is one of the State Government’s efforts at ensuring that there is a reduction of gender based violence, especially rape.
“So, we want our women to be able to defend themselves and be less vulnerable to rape attacks”, Olaboopo stated.
She added that interested participants shall only be required to obtain the enrolment form at a negligible cost of #500 for the sake of getting them committed, while all other materials and logistics required shall be provided by the government.
Speaking on the venues of the programme, Olaboopo said that: “It is not going to be centred in Osogbo alone, it is going to be across the state. But first, we are taking it on the basis of Federal Constituencies, after which we shall be extending it to local government areas as soon as we are able to get more coaches”.
