18 October, 2018

By Sr. Stephanie Ngozi Ugwu, SHCJ

‘Catholic Education in Nigeria: Challenges of Child Protection and Human Sexuality’ is the theme of the 3rd National Catholic Education Summit held in the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Resource Centre, Durumi, Abuja from 15th to 18th October, 2018.

Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus in the African province, mostly heads of schools and a student from Veritas University, Abuja participated actively in this event.

We deemed this theme so relevant to our SHCJ mission, since as a congregation, we have a special interest in the holistic formation of children and young adults.

Little wonder, we have the Child Rights policy as a guide in this respect in schools where we work. Besides this, the incessant cases of sexual abuse as well as the proliferation of uncensored materials especially on the internet makes this theme very apt for all educators and more especially Holy Child Educators.

Here are comments from some of the SHCJ delegates:

“The Summit on Catholic Education: Challenges of Child protection and Human Sexuality is a timely intervention as well as a valuable resource for Catholic institutions. The presentations were on target and provided a lot of food for thought and themes for further conversation. The safety and sexual health of the children in our schools is our responsibility.” – Sr Antoinette Opara, SHCJ.

“The theme for the summit was hinged on Catholic education and it’s ethos in ensuring that we as Catholic heads of schools and colleges are in the know of what it takes to form our students, collaborate with parents and guardians and teachers to fill these gaps. Personally, I found these topics: ‘Catholic Ethos as the Foundation for ideal school leadership: a contemporary challenge’ and ‘Sex and media Education in catholic schools: implications for the future family’ very inspiring. Hence, I have been so enriched to do things differently and to continue to do more where I am already on the right track.” – Sr Clarence Uzogara, SHCJ

“The entire program calls all educators to a more proactive manner in child education bearing in mind the decaying society and how to bring about changes in our schools, society and the world at large through the help of the Holy Child Jesus.” – Sr. Lilian Eboh, SHCJ. Student- Veritas University, Abuja.

‘It is refreshing to hear the servant leadership echoed again. A leader being able to do what he/she wants the teachers and others to do. Making a change happen in self and others and communicating effectively putting the goal of the school above self-interest. One of the practical things I have been doing and hoping to do more is educating parents and organizing workshops, seminars especially on the issue of the use of media and sexuality education” – Sr. Gloria Okoh, SHCJ

‘It is good to hear once again that Basic education is the right of every Nigerian child. It is the onus of the government of Nigeria to provide Basic education for the first nine years 6, 3 primary one to JS3 out of (6, 3, 3, 4). So I look forward to the implementation of this as it is not obtainable in many States yet. The reminder that sex education must begin from home and supervised by parents is timely.” – Sr Lilian Okwechime, SHCJ