Victims of sexual abuse get help from Weird MC and women rights group

Project Alert, a non-governmental women rights organisation and popular Nigerian female act, Weird MC, on Friday donated about N150,000 to women who have been victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The amount was given to seven female victims at the premises of the NGO, at Ojodu Berger, Lagos, for them to start, or expand, small businesses and become self-reliant.

Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, the executive director of Project Alert, said the money was to enable the women to regain some measure control over their lives after years of abuse and neglect. She said regardless of their pasts, their future could be better if they remained positive and believed in themselves.

“You have to tell yourself you can do it and God will cap your efforts with success. But please make the best of whatever little assistance we give. And if after a three month period, we see you used the money judiciously, we can re-assist,” Mrs. Effah-Chukwuma said.

Some of the women gave accounts of the different kind of abuse they had suffered in the hands of their husbands, guardians and step-fathers.

They expressed their gratitude to the organisation for being their support at those times when their families, friends and loved ones deserted them.

“My step-father was constantly abusing me sexually. I couldn’t approach my mother because she doesn’t give me any chance to express myself. It was one day he beat me with a wire till blood rushed out of my body that I ran away and came to Project Alert,” said a 17-year-old girl who is also in her penultimate year in secondary school. She now lives at ‘Sophia’s Place’, the first female victims shelter in Nigeria, run by the organisation.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries on behalf of Project Alert, Weird MC, (Adesola Idowu) said she could relate to the pains of the women, having had to overcome similar circumstances. She praised the women for their courage in standing up against abuse and discrimination.

“Issues of violence against women are dear to my heart, she said. “We have to be courageous in speaking out. It must stop! And even amongst women, we should stop intimidating our fellow women who are going through abuse. This is why I see Project Alert as a tool to rebrand Nigeria.”

One of the beneficiaries who received a N15,000 cheque, Joy Benson, said in December 2008, a year after she got married, she had to run away from her husband while four months pregnant, because he became physically abusive.

She said all financial assistance would go towards achieving her dream of owning an event planning organisation.

“I’ve negotiated with a firm to work in partnership with them as an advertising agent. So I’ll use the money to place adverts there and if clients call me, it’s through the firm I’ll do the transaction. Right now I can’t afford to remain idle. I just want to start my life back. I need to work,” Mrs. Benson said.

Other beneficiaries who received sums ranging from N10,000 to N25,000 said they would use the money to expand the business ventures they were involved in; from hairdressing to petty trading.