100 girls receive lessons in taekwondo for self-defence

No fewer than 100 female athletes across Nigeria have been trained in the game of taekwondo for self-defence and leadership skills against gender-based violence (GBV). Participants at the training which was held in Benin City were drawn from Abia, Cross River, Delta, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, and Ekiti State. Speaking during the two-day training at the […]

No fewer than 100 female athletes across Nigeria have been trained in the game of taekwondo for self-defence and leadership skills against gender-based violence (GBV).

Participants at the training which was held in Benin City were drawn from Abia, Cross River, Delta, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, and Ekiti State.

Speaking during the two-day training at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the Programme Officer, Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEP), Tony Eleme, said the foundation is using sports, especially taekwondo and football, to empower girls with self-confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills while raising awareness about GBV.

According to him, the group believes that when the girl-child is empowered, the whole nation is empowered.

He noted that because gender-based violence is rising, there was the urgent need to help teenage girls to defend themselves, stay confident, and recognize when they are being abused.

“Sometimes these girls are exploited without even realizing it. Through sports and education, we’re building their awareness and resilience,” he stated.

On his part, Dr. Nosakhare Erumwunse, the Edo Coordinator of the Child Protection Network Nigeria, noted that GBV affects both genders, though women and girls remain disproportionately impacted by over 70 percent.

He cautioned the participants against using the skills to engage in unnecessary fights, urging them to embrace discipline and focus on competence.

Erumwunse said any girl who has learned taekwondo is less likely to be raped because she knows how to defend herself and disarm an attacker.