By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) have resolved to work together, to tackle the menace of rape in Nigeria.
The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe and the Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority, Mallam Yakubu ibn Mohammed made this resolution when the NCAC chief paid a courtesy call on his counterpart in NTA headquarters Abuja.
Runsewe stated that the efforts of NTA on the issues of Rape in Nigeria has drastically reduced the rate of Rape as indicated by statistics from other states of the Federation.
He added that the sustained dissemination of information and condemnation of rape by NTA has gone a long way to sensitize rape victims and their families on what to do and whom to complain to when they fall victim.
Runsewe said that as the custodian of culture in Nigeria and Africa, he knows that no aspect of Nigerian or African custom or tradition supports rape and as such, he will throw his weight behind any institution that is ready to fight rape and rapists in Nigeria.
According to Runsewe, he finds in the NTA, a formidable ally in sensitizing Nigerians on the dangers of rape and the consequences of rape on its victims. He added that his organisation strongly believes that NTA and NCAC can form the much needed synergy that is required to fight rapists all over the country.
The Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority, Mallam Yakubu ibn Mohammed on his part affirmed his support for the Federal Government’s determination to eradicate the scourge of banditry, kidnapping and very recently, rape, stated that NTA has decided to be in the forefront of the vanguard to fight rapists and all these other social vices in Nigeria.
Mallam Mohammed added that an acronym “STAR” – Stand Against Rape has already been adopted to fight against this social vice called rape.
According to Mallam Mohammed, NTA is happy that Runsewe is coming to join forces with them to fight the menace of rape that is fast becoming a pandemic because he knows that anything Runsewe puts his hand into, he does it with all sincerity of purpose.
Mohammed concluded that rape is a pandemic that must be tacked with all determination. He promised to put in his best to fight Rape and Rapists to ensure that Rape is reduced to the barest minimum in Nigeria.