World Hepatitis Day: 2 Million people dieing from it.

Kicking Hepatitis out of Nigeria with the Royals, General Yakubu Gowon, Princess Peju Hameed, Chief Agboola, Prof. Victor Adetiloye and Latasha Ngwube: Good will Ambassador. 

Today is world Hepatitis Day, yet only a few are aware of the disease. It is estimated that over 450 million people in the world are infected with the Hepatitis virus infection in the world, and 50 million are in Africa. Sadly enough, people die of Hepatitis B & C. More than 90 per cent of carriers of the disease are not even aware of it. 

After the adoption of a resolution during the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010, the World Hepatitis Day was endorsed to be globally celebrated on July 28 in honour of the 1976 Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg for his outstanding research work on the discovery, and effective test for hepatitis B. 

The virus kills and damage the liver; it is more dangerous and deadly than HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. There is need to create awareness programmes to help minimize the spread of the deadly virus. However, WHO is alerting people to the risks of contracting hepatitis from unsafe objects, such as; unsafe blood, unsafe injections, and sharing of sharps objects, including sharing drug-injections equipment. 

Also, to mark the day in Nigeria, her Majesty Yeyeluwa Wuraola Ogunwusi, Latasha Ngwube among others flagged off the WALK for life against Hepatitis on the street of Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. Despite the rain, her majesty still did walk, as a good will Ambassador; creating awareness and educating the people about the hepatitis virus infection. They were healthcare personnel there for people to get screened. 

"Did you know about 4,000 people die daily from 1- of the 5 strains of Hepatitis?, did you know it is treatable/curable if detected early?"- Latasha Ngwube who was also screened today at centre of the event today in Ile-Ife Osun state Nigeria. Latasha Ngwube took the walk today with her majesty Yeyeluwa Wuraola Ogunwusi alongside with the youth as the good will Ambassador. 

It is advised, that everyone go for a test, and take necessary precautions. Effective treatment are available for hepatitis B and there is cure for hepatitis C, so, it is very crucial to talk to your health care manager or doctor in order to know your hepatitis status, and way out where necessary. It is a standard precautionary measure for all pregnant women to be screened for hepatitis in order to protect them and their unborn baby. 

Furthermore, all women should get Hepatitis A and B vaccine before pregnant. There are safe and effective vaccine against Hepatitis A and B types. In Europe, Germany for instance, most of the European women get the vaccine before getting pregnant; the vaccine is in three package which last in the body for 10, years. 

Save tips: Avoid sharing needles or personal items such as; razors, needle, clippers etc. Avoid tattoos, and other body piercings activities and also avoid casual and unprotected sexual intercourse. Let us spread the NEWS and not the virus!

Queendaline Schneider

Photo credit: Latasha Ngwube.

Green Town (Grünstadt) Wine Festival Germany 2016

The Grünstadt wine Festival on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Luitpoldplatz street. From 10:am, is the worlds of wine, live music bands, food and wine vendors, and the children carousel was part of the events. It was a nice and lovely day, as the people enjoys the music bands, and wine at the occassion. 

It is estimated that 65 percent of the German wine production is coming from the Rheinland-Pfalz. Germans are also known for the production of wine, however, Germany is the eighth largest wine producing country in the world. 

Speaking with some of the winegrower, in the Leiningerlandes at the Grünstadt Wine Festival, it is obvious that white wine is the highest production of wine in the area or in Germany. According to Mr Klaus Grün, one of the winegrower (wine is good Otto grün) Grünstadt-Sauseheim, who has been in the business for over 30 years, he is the third generation of the otto grün wine. He explained that they produced 30 percent red wine and 70 percent white wine. And in his own word he says "wine is good for enjoyment, one or two glasses a day isn't bad". He went further to explained, that since the people are in the area of wine, it also makes the people to drink wine. And of course wine is a tradition in Germany. 

I also met Miss Anna Lena, she is the 67 winegräfin, Leiningerlandes from Obringheim. She explained about her new office as the new elected weingräfin, for tourism, and continue to promote wine in Germany. Alongside with her father, they also talk about various wine production; in their styles, such as; dry, semi-sweet, sweet white wine, red wine, and sekt. They produces 40 percent red wine, and 60 percent white wine. Müsel wine is good has been in existence since 1737, it was founded by Johan Sebastian Müsel, and Anna Lena and her family are the eight generation of the Müsel wine. 

Personally, I find this interesting,that most of the winegrower in Germany inherited their vineyard from their forefathers, and are still able to meet up with good production of wine. There is also in Germany, a wine Queen, and wine princess but in Leiningerlandes is the wine countess (weingräfin), I guess this is coming from the history in 17 century, Countess Eva of the Leiningerlandes Castle. And this has become part of the wine festival in Grünstadt or Leiningerlandes as the people elect new wine countess (weingräfin) every year, to show case the wine festival annually. 

It was indeed a great day today, because the rain can disrupt the wine festival, and that would have stop people from coming out. It was a nice event as the people in Grünstadt and around Grünstadt sitting outside and inside the tent, eating and enjoying a glass
of wine.  Three music bands performed, starting first with TSG music band. TSG is also one of the oldest music band in Grünstadt, it was founded in 1861, and they are in partnership with Grünstadt music school according to one of the member of the band, Daniel Hennig. They are also known as the Blaskapelle Grünstadt. And around 1:pm, the Akkordeoh Orchester Leinngerland starts to play... Such a nice event! Also I will not forget the friendly gestures, as the people interacted with me there, especially the older ones. Oh what a friendly gestures! Indeed wine gladdens the heart"- Psalm 104:5

Few Africa countries are into wine production, such as; South Africa, Egypt amongs others. But Nigerian produces palm wine. Palm wine is an alcoholic beverage created from palm tree or coconut palms. It is known by various names in different regions of Nigeria. The yoruba people of Nigeria call it "Emu" meaning wine. Usually, the white liquid that is first colleted is tends to be very sweet, and non-alcoholic before it is fermented. As a child I drank a lot of new palm wine, as it is claimed to be healthy, (Palm wine it said to be a good source of vitamin B1,B3 &B12), so therefore a lot of parents in Nigeria gives their child or children new palm wine to clean their stomach. There are no wine festival in Nigeria (Africa) but palm wine plays an important role; in many ceremonies in some part of Nigeria, for example, the Igbo people of Nigeria use palm wine as part of traditional marriage rites. Etc

As white wine or sparkling wine is rooted in the German culture, so is palm wine deeply rooted in the West Africa culture (Nigeria). But there are really no wine festival in Nigeria as it is here in Germany, since Nigeria do not belong to the red or white wine producing regions of the world. 

Queendaline Schneider.

Why Nigerians Do not Know about Horticulture.

Africa soil is good for planting fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Although, not all Afrcican countries plant flowers, but African countries are still leading in the world for flouristculture. According to a reliable source, it is estimated that over 2-8 billion roses are imported from Africa; Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Kenya. Kenya is the third largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. Since Kenya signed the agreement with European Union to be importing their fresh vegetables, flowers to Europe; from Naivasha to Amsterdam, the countries farmers and gardeners has been doing a great job, to meet up with the task. The country flower power or bloom is attributed to it's sunny climate, which enable high quality flowers to be grown year-round basis.

In Europe, for instance in Germany, flowers are use for various activities or occassion, it is more or less like a tradition for the Germans; just like same way people all over the world use flowers for communicating; the German people enjoy exchanging flowers at any occasion. According to Mr Karlheinz Starck, owner of flower-house STARCK (Blumenhaus STARCK) in Grünstadt-Germany: he explained what flowers are used for in Germany or Europe. He says, flowers are use as gifts on special occassion such as; wedding, birthday, mother's day, and as burial rites. When the German people visits their dead relation they bring flower to the graveyard of their departed soul. He also went further to explained, how countries like; Isreal, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, and even our neighbor Cameroun are doing well from exporting flowers. I was overwhelmed with curiosity? I was surprised, because in Nigeria, the floriculture or horticulture is not well developed.

Why is Nigeria not doing well in flouristculture or horticulture? The answer to this question is far-fetched, firstly Nigerians do not know about the usefulness of flowers, and they do not appreciate flowers, unlike here in Germany that people use flowers as gift, if you give a Nigerian flowers as a gift he/she might not really appreciate it, because flowers is not part of Nigerian culture. Of course, Nigerians use artificial flowers for decoration, as wedding bouquet, and on valentine's day some lovers also exchange artificial rose-flowers. "Personally, I never saw a real rose flowers in my country (Nigeria-Africa). I was surprised or amazed to know that Africa (Kenya) is the largest production of rose flowers. They grow buttonhole carnations and red roses for the lovers of rose flowers in Europe, but they themselves could not enjoy the beauty and fregrance of the flowers due to the poverty level in Africa. The poverty level in Kenya made a lot of their farmers to work so hard, to harvest more flowers for the European labour market, because they live in adject poverty they do not know about the beauty of flowers, nor do they understand the language of flowers but only seeing the flouristculture in Kenya doing well, will soon open eyes of other Afrcican countries in horticulture, especially Nigeria who depend only on crude oil as the only source of income, since the oil sector provides for 95% of Nigeria's foreign exchange earning, and has failed to develop it Agriculture or Horticulture sector, and other sectocs of economic growth of the nation.

Nigerian will be surprised to know that Kenya flouristculture ranks as one of the economy's fastest growing source from the highest industries, the second largest foreign exchange earner, $250million per annum. It sound cool right? But one can not overemphasised the usefulness or significance in European culture. I'm glad in a country that understand and communicate with flowers or nature. For example, the German or European's culture has made me to know that, the rose flower speaks life for their sharp thorns signify that life is beautiful, but also hard. In Germany or in some other part of the world, people give the sick bunches of flowers to wish them a new life of health, and also bring bunches of flowers to their dead relation to show them contiunity of love and a new hope in paradise. Flowers make the world beautiful. The world is made beautiful by wonderful creatures, things that exist in it, including plants and animals. Even God the Creator of the Universal, when He created man, he placed man in beautiful garden "The Garden of Eden" (Gensis 2:8-14). That tells us that God is interested in flouristculture.

But sadly enough, most of the African countries are not communicating with flowers. When you visit the cemetery or memorial Park one will not find a single flowers there. And yet Africa (Kenya) is leading in flouristculture. Even the Lake Naivasha that used to be a beautiful place in Kenya in nomore beautiful like it used to be known in the past. Not only that The cemetery look abandoned, the parks too are nothing to write home about. The one thing that bothered me about 'flouristculture ' in Africa is that the gardeners of those flowers that are been imported to Europe remains in poverty, while their governance are the one enjoying the benefits. This is another story of the African Child! It is a disease called corruption.

Queendaline Schneider.

Music School Park Festival in Germany.

On Sunday, July 10, 2016 at 12:30pm. The Grünstadt music school performed; drum, violin, flute, guitar, trumpet etc at the Park festival organised by the music school, which took place at St Peter's park. The Park festival is a yearly event and this year the school celebrate the festival alongside with their 40 years aniversary of the music school in Grünstadt. 

The music school, celebrate its 40 years aniversary, the school was founded in (1976), and since then it produced a lot of singers within and outside Grünstadt. Speaking with one of the school board of director Mr Martin Richard, who explained how the school is been manage through funds from donations, and case prize won by students in concert are to buy new Music Instrucments for the school. He also talks about how the school recently went on tour to Spain to perform in a concerts of over 1,000 bands with 6,000 singers, and the students performance was outstanding; they performed in the concerts to very appreciative audience, the school recived cash prize of 1,000 Euro. No doubts, with talent and good training the students are doing well in concerts. 

Also, speaking on the concert and the various music instrumentals such as; piano, drum, viola, cello, trumpet, flute, harp, clarinet, guitar etc, Völker Riegler the guitar teacher of the music school in Grünstadt talks about his experience of teaching guitar over 25, years with the school, and they have around 1,000 students who plays different music instrucments. He also explained how the children start to learn music from early age, some of the children who starts from the age of 5 year old, and some of them go further to study music at University, but most of them have already have their foundation from the music school. 

The youth singers directed by Völker Riegler began the concert with the guitar and other music instrucments, they produced delightful Performance, other bands or group also performed gospel and Rock songs. 

There were different music bands at various corner inside the Park (St Peter Park). One can hear the music from different angles as the music students perform. There was also a big stage at the center of the park; the main entertainment centre. From here one could see the big bands performing on stage to audience that either sat in a lower area directly in front or stood around the edge with a plate of cake or bread with sauge and drinks to enjoy with the music. Of course with a nice weather, in a beautiful atmosphere in the park the audience does had a great and a good time with the music. 

At 3:pm, the big band sings. The big band which is made up of teachers and old students from the Grünstadt music school, another great performance from everyone, and most importantly a great day out as the big band left us in high spirit. This made the concert an even more great experience for me and I think as well as the audience did have a great time. 

In Germany the children get to learn a lot of things as they grow up, which includes learning the music at school, while in Africa (Nigeria) most children do not really enjoys such right due to the sick economy of the country. Even though the country is one of the richest country in Africa, yet the children or youths are still lagging behind. On like in Germany where the people organised concerts to entertain the people, in Nigeria (Africa) most of traditional musical performances are for religions, and social engagements such as; funeral rites, naming ceremonies of a new born baby, marriage ceremonies, opening of new house, gospel festival, these are the only period Nigerians enjoys musical experience. In the past most the children in Africa (Nigeria) do not have access to learn music in school at early stage of their life, especially the poor children. There are no music school where children can learn and show case their talent in singing unlike here in Germany where Kids get to learn from the music school. Most of the Nigerian famous musician discovered their talent from singing in the church choir, they do not have any formal education or any knowledge of music from school. Since the churches in Nigeria were imported to Africa by the Europeans missionary, so by that way a lot of children were able to learn how to play some of the music instrucments. But today, some of the very rich children can now learn music in the school at a very high price, and the Europeans rock, Jazz, trumpet, afro pop and Africa America hip hop within which Western classical music remain the predominate in Africa (Nigeria) today. 

I was impressed by the concert, because it made a lasting impression on me, such I have not see in my country Nigeria (Africa). 

Queendaline Schneider. 

America's or Europe's Racist Ideology Do not Define Me.

First and foremost, i am thankful, for my identity, because I know who I AM. I am not ashamed of my race, neither am I ashamed of my heritage as an African woman or woman of colour. By the way, what defines an African or black race? or what makes us Africa? What makes women of colour different from the European or white? what is our identity based on the continent?

What defines an African according to the Europeans, is the continent, our culture, our skin tone, and our kinky hair if I may say. As for me, what defines an African is not the continent which was named by the Europeans. (The ancient Roman used the name Africa to refer to the present-day Tunisia, and during the Middle Ages' as the Europeans explored the size of the African continent, they decided to extend the name Africa to the rest of the continent). Only an individual can determine what defines he/she. Despite the fact, that there were also white people, who are also considered as African based
on their continent, the blacks (Africans) are the only race that is considered or seen as second-class citizen, and can not be rank with the Europeans or whites among others. If the blacks (Africans) aren't the only African people, but are being treated differently in the world; then I think the problem is their identity, which is the skin tone and hair, and of course our history.

When a black person meet, an European or white the first question they ask he/she is "where are you from?" It does'nt matter if you were born there or how long you have lived there, they still don't see you as part of them or one of them. For instance, I have lived here long enough, and i am now a German or EU citizen, but I can't tell them i'm a German, if I say i am a German, they still ask about my nationality, since I look different from them. Recently, I was at an occasion, and some of the people at the event, had recognized me as a journalist, because they had read my reports in the Newspaper; they walk up to me, and asked the same questions, (where i'm coming from, but this time in different dimension, they asked if I was here seeking asylum, or as a refugee?), and my reply was a capital NO; even though I said no, my answer seems not to be enough for the person interrogating me on my nationality, and the reason why I was living in Germany. Anyway, I told them how I visited Germany in the past, and had nursed the hope of studing here, before I got trapped by marriage. Then I told them i am a Nigerian, but i am actually a German now (dual citizen), but I couldn't tell them i'm German immediately, because I knew they will question my identity, and one them noticed my confidence, after seeing my ID card he said that the world has charged so fast, and people are becoming one race (I smiled...) or another, including German. That Germany is international now, that next time I should say "i am a German".  I want to believe he was talking from a religious point of view, because he is a religious leader.

When you go on the Train some of the whites or Germans having racism boiling in their blood don't want to sit next to a black person; there was a time I sat opposite a white guy in the Train the way he looked at me, nobody told me before I changed my sit. While sitting beside another white skinned girl; she kept staring at me in a very annoying manner. I'm not the only black or African who have had such experiences; some blacks or Africans have faced so much from Racists, even experts, foothballers, and tourist, that, they are no more bothered by racial activities of the racists. What I haven't experienced are the Germans racist (Nazi) that HIT. Because I heard that some of the German racist can hit you; if you meet the wrong ones. It is so scary when you see the report on the racist, and how they deal with the foreigners. In some part of Germany racism isn't about the colour of one skin alone, once you are a foreigner they don't want you in their country, because they believe the foreigners have increased unemployment in the labour market.

What has racism got to do with marriage? Some German mother In-laws are the most common racist. Every African who is inter married will meet them, although some of them might be very nice. Anyway, racism is not a problem in America or Germany alone. Racism is everywhere, even in Nigeria people are tribalistic. And also there are blacks who don't like white as well. So much racism in the world. People really need to learn to see each other as one race one blood, because we are all created by one Creator (Genesis 1:27).

Another thing, a lot of Europeans don't know that Africa is a continent, that contains a lot of African countries. They just believe all Africans are one, and the same I mean the Blacks. Maybe, that is why some of them believe all Blacks are sick, and poor people who need help. The one that surprised me is the fact that even in the 21st Century some of them still see Black as the 'Theory of Evolution' claimed. They see Africans as another specie of monkeys in human cloth. Sadly enough, I hope they don't teach the Kids such theory in school, because I have faced a situation, where Kids asked me some funny questions I just smiled. An example of such question? "is it true that banana's come from Africa?" A Child once asked me this question, and I asked who told him, he said his teacher. What sort of seed of racism are they trying to sow with such teaching? I just wondered? Another question from another Kid is: Is it true that all the children in Africa are sick, no food, and they don't wear clothes? All these are not true stories of an African Child. By the way, not all Africans live in mud houses, and work only on farm lands. We have Kids who were born with silver spoons in Africa (Nigeria). There are rich, and poor people in Africa (Nigeria) as there are in other continents of the world.

As an African or Black, if you dress too low or cheap, you are considered poor and needy, if you dress gorgeous, and expensive, they consider you living a false life, (she just want to belong or fit in). i.e my husband will always say to me, "Don't overdressed, because some people will only laugh at you". I did not understand this, because I was born and brought up in Lagos. Lagos is one of the biggest city in Nigeria, and the social life there can be compared with that of New York City. I'm familiar with the social high life of Lagos; I love to dress from hair to heels. Most of my family and friends can testify to the fact that i am a fashion conscious person, especially when it comes to dress, and high heels. I don't even blamed some of this Europeans, because I heard some Africans or Blacks go to them begging them for their used clothes, with the claims that they can't buy clothes here due to the prices. They present themselves so low, and some of the Germans just see them as second class citizen. Dressing or looking good in Germany has nothing to do with rich or poor or race. Everyone can dress the way he/she want. Some Africans or Blacks have so much inferiority complex, and they like to infect others with it.

Are Black People More Racist to their own race? The Blacks attitude towards their fellow blacks in Europe (Germany/France). If you are walking on the street, and you see a black, don't just bothered to say hello! Because they will not answer you, some of them even try to run away from you, if they sight you from afar. I didn't understand this either until I had my experience with some blacks living in Germany and France in the course of running my Afro-Shop Business; which made me to have contacts with most of them around. I almost got to the verge of running away from blacks too, and i'm really surprised at the characters some of them. Nigerians back home, for example, are wonderful people, but the story here in Europe (Germany/France) is different.

I will advice Blacks to stop tearing each other down, we should learn to love, and respect ourselves and others; same to my Europeans brothers and sisters allover the world let love be our watchdog. Let  love be your greatest aim. If you love others as yourself, you wont want to hurt or kill them for any reasons. As an African or Black, know that you are not inferior, and know that you are not a claim of "theory of evolution". For you are a product of God. Live your life according to God's standard, and noone can take that from you. Shalom!

Queendaline Schneider.

The Evil Act of Paedophilia in Nigeria

On July 20th 2014, When news had it that one Liberian, Patrick Sawyer collapsed at Ikeja International Airport Lagos and later that day, he was diagnosed at a specialist Hospital in Obalende (Lagos Island) to be infected with the deadly Ebola Virus, fear gripped Lagosians andNigerian as a whole. We had enough troubles already; the insurgency in most  of our Northern states: the facing economic challenges of the nation among others, so Nigerians understand that they cannot afford, as a nation, to have one more problem to combat, especially one like anEbola viral pandemic. While I watched the breaking new on television that day, I said to myselfwith suspended hope, “this one, just like HIV and every other one, will come and go or better still become what we have to live with.” But who are those saying Nigeria is weak in dealing with her challenges? Who are those saying; Nigeria cannot be at her best in fighting what she does not want? Nigeria; both at the federal and state level, did fight Ebola to a stand-still.Quarantine centres were set up in the outskirts of some major cities in the country, and combating health facilities were put in place in most states’ and federal hospitals to curtail this virus; capable of wiping out the entire national population. Every sector of the countries was involved in this fight; NGO’s, schools, religious centres, media houses, financial institutions, the arm forces and every family. We saw Ebola as a national, state, local, family and individual enemy, and we all fought against it, regardless of our religious beliefs, ethnicity or political affiliations.

​But, just like the seven churches in Asia; as reported in the book of Revelation in the Bible, I have yet something, yes, just one thing, against this country.” Not the leaders; politicians and the Elites alone, this time, but against everyone living in here. Where are the nerves and the positive adrenaline that spur us into action against Ebola?  Where is the national unity and coercion that won us the certificate of An Ebola Free Nation, from WHO on October 20th 2014 (just less than four months after)? Why have Nigerians gone to sleep with fire on their roofs? Why do we allow a virus deadlier than HIV, LASSA and EBOLA live among us this long? On paper and television, we condemn it, but in attitude, we are creating a favourable condition and machinery for it to thrive and replicate. Pedophilia; sexual assault on prepubescent children (Children below puberty age; less than 11 years old), is the social virus that has been battling harder than ever with this country in the last four years, and nothing concrete is done against it.According to the Encyclopedia of Sexual disorder, “It may be directed toward children of the same sex or children of the other sex. Some pedophiles are attracted to both boys and girls. Some are attracted only to children, while others are attracted to adults as well as to children.”

​It is no more a sane question for anyone to ask if pedophilia is happening around us, because there is hardly a week that cases in that line are not reported on media.  

​On The Punch of September 3, 2015, there was a case of a 34-year-old factory worker, Mohammed Ahmed, who admitted raping his daughter six times. Four days after, the same newspaper reported another case of a 41-year-old father, Emeka Igwe of Federal Housing Estate, Meiran, Ojokoro, Lagos State who has also been raping his seven year old daughter and has gotten her addicted to masturbation. These few examples out of numerous others that I cited areto help you remove the doubt on the prevalence of this devastatingly trendy sexual atrocity. I know there are thousands of sexual assaults on kids going on each week in different parts of this country, that the victims do not have courage or know the best platform to report or fight. The usual old unjustifiable argument that most of those that were raped at one time or the other were persons that are fond of wearing indecent and provocative clothes, or were those always found in odd places, are no more tenable, as pedophiles sexually assault or rape innocent kids, not grown-ups. In fact, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert, an organisation that addresses domestic violence, including rape and based in Lagos, recently said that “70 percent of reported rape cases in Nigeria today involve young people and children of ages 17 to zero.”

​I surely agree with Mrs Josephine. The stories of how kids are defiled get to us every day, week and almost every time we pick up a newspaper. All these madness are going on in differentparts of the country at the same time. No place is safe anymore for kids, be it private homes, extended families’ and family-friends’ residents, schools, church or mosque. Pedophiles or persons with psycho-sexual disorder of getting attracted to kids are now everywhere. Some “daddies”, “grandpa”, “nannies”, “uncles”, “spiritual fathers”, “man-friends” and some “teachers” are pedophiles. If you think all these are mere play on words or hyperbolic statements, you will have to think twice. Didn’t you read on the media; how a 40-year-old motorcyclist named Uche Imo was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl. What of the one that happened in Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, about one Monday Goodwill who was arrested for defiling a 3 year-old girl. If you did not read about that, then what about the 60 year-old Akinduro; a private hostel owner who was apprehended by the police for raping a 12 year-old female student of the Mayflower School who was staying in his hostel. Also, in Taraba State, 27-year-old Williams Julius forcefully had intercourse with a five-year old kid. It is happening in the north and south, the same way it is happening in the East and west. If you think, it is all as a result of the carelessness of the parent- leaving their kids in the care of strangers, then, you might not be so right because even some parents assault their own ward. In Delta State the police arrested a 46 year old man, Morris Ndidwe for allegedly defiling his own 11 year-old daughter. In Lagos, a 35 year-old Harrison Agu was arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court over an assault on his six year-old daughter. This list is almost endless. 

It is worrisome and shameful that Mrs josephine’s ugly statics is not contributed by the so called “unbelievers” alone, even from the so called “holy of holies” and by the so called spiritual leaders. How do I mean, In November 2015, one 46 year-old Pastor Ifeanyi Bernard was alleged and arrested for raping a 13 year-old girl in Nassarawa state. Another 40-year-old Pastor Abraham Akpan, was on September, 2015 charged before a Lagos Magistrate Court in Lagos for defiling a 16 year-old girl while conducting deliverance prayer on her. 55-year old Pastor Jacob Ojomo was arrested in Ondo state for taking advantage of a 15 year-old girl. I just have to stop here because I can go on with this cases or allegations for the next hundred pages, but for time. 

​The purpose of this write-up is not to educate you on the moral decadences in the society; as majority are no more ignorant of these, but to nip this devastating sexual appetite in the bud before Nigeria becomes the 21st century Sodom and Gomorrah. 

WHAT ROLE ARE WE TO PLAY?

I don’t have to tell the government and different sectors or ministries what to do, because they know what to do, if they really want this menace out like every other one they had fought in time past. But I really need to talk to parents, since they are the closest to their kids or wards.

…AS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN

A social commentator, Jide Ojo, simply put it this way, “It goes beyond telling your children to keep off strangers. In many cases, it is those close to the child who would take advantage of the close relationship to penetrate the child’s defences which have been tuned to warding off strangers. You need to constantly engage your wards in seemingly light conversations and learn to sieve for information. A note of caution is not to over react without confirming and reconfirming facts. You can do this by asking them to describe the circumstances and surroundings when it happened, what they remember, what they wore, how they felt.”

He also opined further, “The most important trick however, is to teach your children about their private parts. There are five of these – the lips, the chest (nipples), their penis/vagina, their anus and their thighs. The lips have been included because disaster often starts with a kiss. ‘Kiss me if you like me’. The nipples and thighs have also been included because these are zones that are usually played with or passed through too”

​Finally, to complement Ojo’s likely way-outs, be careful with and vigilant on those you leave your child with. As a parent, do know that your younger brother (your child’s uncle) or man-friend should be checkmated, though without ungodly suspicion, whenever he is alone withyour kid(s), because you do not know what he has been exposed to in recent times. Check theexcesses of those bachelors around you, on your kid(s). Remember, your child’s private teacher is not your family, even if he or she is; the negative appetite of pedophiles do blind them, if he or she is one. Lesson should be done in the open and if door will be shut, you must have another adult, if not yourself inside. Ask your kid(s) who is buying him or her gifts, and cleverly ask for what purpose and on what occasion, without painting a nice person, a devil. Check the pants and under wears of your kids when laundering. Father and step fathers that; you as woman haveobserved to have questionable sexual habits should be checked around your kids. If you observe anything pointing to defilement or assaults on your ward(s), seek counsel or report to the police and seek medical attention for that child immediate. 

Above all, remember that the future of your child is more important than your social status- be available to them. Just few minutes with your kid or one question and a reply between you and your child, can save you several queries and quiz from the Police and the Media if “it” happened to your ward.

​​​​​​OBANUSO TOPE

​​​​​​Author of the book; Undercover

REFERENCES

Articles: Nigeria's soaring cases of paedophilia: by Jide Ojo, Executive Director of OJA development Consult, Abuja.