On November 27, 2023, an alum of the American University of Nigeria, El-Miracle Idorenyin Akpan, and her team hosted an awareness campaign presentation at the Students Activities Hub to identify, address, and report Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on campuses. The event was organized to commemorate the Global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” from November 25th to December 10th.
El-Miracle spoke on behalf of the representative of the NDLEA in Yola, on the role of drugs in GBV cases.
Other presentations by the President of AUN Women’s Leadership Council, Faith-Emmanuela Akpan, Esther Odunmu, Philip Billhansen Omega, and Chelsea Awang focused types of gender-based violence, how abusers think and manipulate their victims, and the available resources at AUN for students who may need help.
Faculty Advisor of the Women’s Leadership Council, Mrs. Emillienne Akpan and Psychologist, Mr. Babaloa Olajubu were also there to support the presenters.
The Psychologist presented on mental health aspects associated with GBV on campuses and stressed the importance of kindness in all circumstances.
The campaign was sponsored by Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation to spread awareness of GBV in tertiary institutions.
The Q&A session was equally robust as students from the School of Law shed more light on how other environmental factors influence GBV. They also offered suggestions on intensifying advocacy against all forms of violence or stopping abuse in their circles and communities.
One of the event's highlights was El-Miracle’s preview of the digital comic she created to raise awareness, which she said will be distributed to the AUN students’ community in due course via the leadership of the Student Government Association.
El-Miracle Akpan, Chelsea Awang, and Philip Omega Bill Hansen are from the Class of 2023 and are currently serving corps members.
Reported by John Abah