The Head of Department of Theatre Arts at the Federal College of Education Abeokuta, Dr Adeniyi Adekunle Oluwadamilare, alongside some non-governmental organisations, has rallied students to break the culture of silence and speak out on challenges threatening their future.
The call was made during a sensitisation programme tagged Ajose Campus Acoustic Session, organised by the Gender Development Initiative in collaboration with the institution’s Theatre Arts Department.
The initiative was aimed at encouraging students to openly discuss issues affecting their wellbeing, particularly peer pressure, abuse, and reproductive health concerns.
Speaking at the event, Oluwadamilare warned that many young people fall into social vices because they often keep their struggles to themselves instead of seeking guidance from responsible adults.
According to him, the influence of the internet, technological exposure and societal expectations often push students into negative behaviours when they lack proper counselling and support.
He noted that many students in tertiary institutions are teenagers who have left their homes and are no longer under the direct supervision of their parents, making them vulnerable to harmful influences.
“Many students are no longer under the direct supervision of their parents. When they face challenges, some become ashamed to speak out and end up confiding in the wrong people who may mislead them,” he said.
The don added that students who encounter problems such as unwanted pregnancy, drug addiction and other social vices often hide their challenges due to fear or embarrassment.
He stressed that initiatives like the Ajose Campus Acoustic Session provide orientation and reorientation for students, helping them realise that solutions can only come when problems are shared.
“Students should not die in silence. When you have a challenge, speak out because solutions can only come when the issue is shared,” he added.
Also speaking, a consultant to the Gender Development Initiative, Mr Damilola Femi Sodiya, said the programme was designed as an edu-entertainment platform to empower young people to speak up whenever they encounter abuse or injustice.
Sodiya explained that the initiative collaborates with schools to educate students—particularly women and girls—on their sexual and reproductive health rights and how to protect themselves from exploitation.
He said the project, supported by partners including RAES and Pamoja, also promotes collective responsibility among students to raise awareness and support peers facing difficult situations.
“For the society at large, we must stop the culture of silence. When you see something, say something. Silence can destroy lives,” Sodiya said.
During the programme, students staged drama sketches, poetry and dance performances depicting real-life experiences of abuse, gender-based violence and social pressures confronting young people on campuses.
The performances highlighted cases where women are often exploited or subjected to sexual harassment, while facilitators also educated participants on how to respond and seek help.
Representatives of the Gender Development Initiative, including Miss Aina Omolola Olumide, alongside facilitators such as Mr Olufemi Olusola Taiwo, also participated in the interactive session with students.
The organisers expressed optimism that the initiative would encourage students to make informed decisions, seek help when necessary and contribute to building a safer and healthier campus environment.
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