Adebukola Afolabi Ogunyeye is the Founder and Executive Director of
Morna International Children’s Foundation (MICF). She is a Children’s Rights Activist and a member of National Children’s Advocacy Centre, Huntsville, USA.
MICF
The non-profit organization, which was founded in 2013 and officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2014 – with their office situated at Ikosi Ketu, Lagos – campaigns against child abuse, teaches parents how to prevent sexual abuse, and assists victims of sexual abuse. In addition, MICF assists orphans and
vulnerable children.
Ogunyeye’s foundation was born out of a passion to advocate for the rights of children. After being abused at the age of seven by an elderly family relation, she realised many years later the resultant effect of the abuse – she constantly touched herself. For 25 years, she lived with the secret shame of this incidence and did not tell anyone.
Knowing and understanding the adverse effects abuse could have on a child, today she passionately campaigns against child abuse; ranging from sexual abuse to female genital mutilation (FGM), assault and violence. Bukola’s vision is to build a world where children are respected and protected from any form of abuse. She is also an advocate for gender equality.
Advocacy
MICF has reached out to over 60 nursery, primary and secondary schools, and have talks to parents in various Parents and Teachers Association about preventing child sexual abuse. Also, trainings have been conducted at churches and Arabic schools to enable a widespread of this message.
As a way to further spread the message of protecting the rights of a child, MICF participates in various international programmes such as:
“International Day of the Girl-Child”
“19 Days of Activism”
“World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse”
“Child Abuse Awareness Month” (which holds in April)
The combination of Adebukola’s passion and honesty earned her the
Community Building Award, given to her by the Baobab Awards, an organization based in Hungary with an affiliation in London.
References:
www.womenofrubies.com
www.guardian.ng/guardian-woman
www.mornafoundation.org
