Beauty queen Akudo steps forward to rescue rape victims

Former Miss Nigeria Ezinne Akudo has launched the Eight Foundation’s rape crisis centre in Lekki Phase One, Lagos.

The foundation is dedicated to providing free medical services counselling, rehabilitation and legal services for survivors and sufferers of sexual violence.

It will provide such services in partnership with the Lagos state ministry of health, several hospitals in Lagos, the office of the public defender, domestic and sexual violence response team and Easy Taxi.

Twenty-four-year-old Akudo has been a very vocal advocate against rape and sexual violence since her reign as beauty queen in 2013.

“We live in a world where women are abused daily and are unable to speak up,” she lamented while speaking of the project.

“One out of four women experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. This crime can take place at anytime and can happen to anyone regardless of tribe, religion or social class.

“Sadly, the society’s response to this heinous crime has led victims to believe that silence is the best option. However, speaking up is our greatest weapon in this fight against sexual violence.”

According to Akudo, a graduate of Abia state university, a close friend’s rape ordeal on campus in 2012 inspired her to speak up and take action to help victims of sexual violence.

“She came back and told us how it happened. Everything was very destabilising and I saw her grow through it all.”

The former beauty queen and law student has been developing this project over the past one year and says it took that long due to amount of funding and organisation required to ensure the sustainability and integrity of the foundation.

She assured the public of the foundation’s preparedness, commitment and capability to provide sustainable assistance to victims.