….Present Findings To Public
Researchers at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo has emphasized the need to design and implement the child protection law aimed at the prevention of childhood sexual abuse in Nigerian communities.
They also want relevant government and non-governmental agencies to intensify campaigns against sexual violence in all ethnic groups in rural and urban communities.
The researchers comprising of eight faculty members in the Social Sciences and Education of the university under the auspices of the Lagos State University’s Rape Research Team is a TETFund National Research Fund grant stated this at the national dissemination seminar to present key findings to the public on its project entitled: “Emerging Patterns and Determinants of Rape: Comparative Study of Rural-Urban Communities in Nigeria” held at the university on Wednesday.
- Advertisement -
To the team, parents, guardians and young females must not underestimate the risk of rape attacks from family members and neighbours.
The outcome of the findings also stated that females could experience rape anywhere, but social policy designers should pay attention to childhood sexual abuse experience, ethnicity, smoking, substance use, childhood family background, place of residence, education and employment status.
According to the team, efforts to address issues related to these factors are mostly likely to reduce rape incidence in rural and urban communities of Nigeria.
Speaking at the seminar, the Coordinator of the team, Prof. Onipede Wusu who stated that the research was conducted in rural and urban communities in 12 Nigerian states, highlighted the incidence patterns of rape in Nigeria.
He explained that the study produced empirical pieces of evidences on the incidences of childhood sexual abuse, rape among young females, women of reproductive age, elderly females and marital rape in rural and urban communities of Nigeria.
“Childhood sexual abuse experience was 35% in national sample while the rural-urban pattern shows that childhood sexual abuse experience was higher at urban communities, 36% than in rural communities, 34%.
“The patterns also indicate that husband-perpetuated rape experience was higher in rural than in urban communities, while the most vulnerable age groups were adults compared to young adults and the minors.
On the risks factors, Prof. Wusu said the data suggest three tiers of factors that determine the likelihood of a female experiencing rape in Nigeria.
The first tier factors, he said include childhood sexual abuse experience among adults, ethnicity and harmful lifestyles.
“Second tier risk factors are childhood family situation that is parents separated or divorced and childhood family type.
“Third tier risk factors include age, place of residence, education, and employment type,” he added.
Prof Wusu also disclosed further that the research findings also showed that rape experience among females is, generally higher in rural than urban communities in Nigeria.
“However, childhood sexual abuse experience in the sample was higher in urban than in rural communities,” he added.
Appreciating the university management for their support in getting the grant and execution of the project, Prof. Wusu also thanked TETFund for supporting the national study with the 2020 National Research Fund grant
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello while unveiling the policy brief of the research said the achievement of Rape Research Team aligns with the administration’s commitment to make LASU the best University in the West African Sub region.
“Indeed, the achievement of this team takes us closer to the realization of the goal of making LASU a research and innovation hub and I congratulate members of the team most warmly for this feat.
“Rape, you will all agree with me, is a global social and public health problem. In virtually all cultures, violent sexual engagement and defilement of all categories of females is a disturbing reality.
“Hence, this study’s outcomes and recommendations must be taken seriously by all stakeholders in Nigeria, including government agencies, lawmakers, advocacy groups, community leaders, school administrators, teachers, parents, guardians, religious leaders, individuals and the public.
“It is incumbent upon us to safeguard our female children as well as adult and aged women who are the major victims of rape in rural and urban communities,” she said.
Prof. Olatunji-Bello added: “This study, to the best of my knowledge, is an unprecedented most comprehensive and most profoundly empirical study on rape in Nigeria. Since this study covers all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, certainly, it has produced pieces of information that can be used to tackle rape in our society.”
Thanking TETFund for the award and release of funds for the execution of the study, the VC said about a year she received the TETFund NRF Quality Assurance Team in her office on a mission to evaluate the extent of the NRF grant research execution in LASU and after their assessment, the team expressed a deep sense of satisfaction with the extent of work done by this research group. Infact, members of the team were particularly pleased with the prudent financial management report of the Rape Research Team.
Members of the research team who were drawn from Economics, Sociology, Counselling, Geography and planning and Psychology include Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan, Prof. Onipede Wusu, Prof. Folashade Airat, Dr Ibrahim Rotimi Aliu, Dr Adijat Olateju, Dr Alausa Waheed, Dr Busoye Olupooye, and Dr Sakiru Raji.
BV.
