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Catholic Nun in Nigeria Urges Women Religious to Speak out against Abuses

Sr. Paulina Chioma Ogbonnaya, National Coordinator Safeguarding Commission Nigeria. Credit: ACI Africa

By Abah Anthony John

Abuja, 31 May, 2024 / 11:30 pm (ACI Africa).

A Catholic Nun in Nigeria has urged women religious in the West African nation to speak out against any form of abuse against them or other vulnerable groups in the society. 

In an interview with ACI Africa Wednesday May 29 on the sidelines of a three-day safeguarding workshop in Nigeria, Sr. Paulina Chioma Ogbonnaya blamed the high rate of abuse targeting women religious and other vulnerable groups in the country on fear and ignorance.

 “Abuse has been going on for quite a long time among vulnerable groups and some of the reasons why this trend continues is the culture of fear and sometimes ignorance,” Sr. Ogbonnaya told ACI Africa. “Victims are afraid to speak out against abuse and this has always emboldened the perpetrators of this crime,” she said.

Credit: ACI Africa

The member of the Dominican Sister of St. Catherine of Siena clarified that abuse is not only sexual in nature, and explained, “There are other forms of abuses and the main issue about abuse comes from exercising power over others especially on the vulnerable ones.” 

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“My general advice is to eliminate fear and speak out. Most of the time this goes on in different strata of human living, but people are so scared to even talk about it,” she said. 

The Nigerian Catholic Nun noted that money is often involved in abuse, and adding that people with information on abuse are usually afraid to let the money go. “That is why they are not always willing and ready to talk about it,” Sr. Ogbonnaya said.

Credit: ACI Africa

Reflecting on the objectives of the training for only Provincial and area presidents of women religious in Nigeria, the Catholic Nun who is presently serving at the Dominican General Council in Rome stated that participants are to share the knowledge acquired to their various provinces especially the rural areas. 

Credit: ACI Africa

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This way, she said, participants in the training will reach out to more sisters in the West African country. 

Abah Anthony John

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.

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