It's awkward to see rape victims coming out to speak after several years of being raped-Queen Nimat Siaka, Miss Curvy Nigeria Tourism 2015

'If you are raped, cry out  immediately to a confidant  who would help you report to appropriate authority'

Story By ADAEZE  AMOS

• Queen Nimat

Queen Nimat Siaka no doubt is an interesting personality. She is  one patriotic Nigerian who has been impacting lives. She is a graduate of Sociology from University of Ilorin and an Ex-Beauty Queen (Miss Curvy Nigeria Tourism 2015). This amiable lady is currently a Social Entrepreneur and the  Founder of The Evergreen Global Initiatives, a none governmental organization..
Guess what? She has received numerous awards because she loves  giving back to humanity. "Yes, I have received several awards such as The Most Supportive Queen of The Year,  Most Active Queen of the Year, Humanitarian Of The Year among other International recognition.".
Nimat is a beauty queen who used her platform to touch lives during her tenure in 2015. She would slip into jeans and tee shirts and busied herself with helping village women in their endeavours and supporting them financially with the little she had. She did a whole lot and that's the fact. She started her None Governmental Organization (N.G.O) while she was a reigning beauty queen. Wonder what her N.G.O was all about? "Basically, it’s centered on advocating against drugs /substance abuse among youths and teenagers via several campaigns and sensitization programme in secondary schools, colleges and universities.Our activities also cover the society as a whole," she enthused.

Tracing back the memory lane on how she started did not meet a brick wall. "How I started? The spark that ignited my decision to find this initiative was my uncompromising drive to impact lives and more importantly, the painful death of my uncle who ignorantly lost his precious life to substance abuse: He was an unrepentant drug addict! May his soul continue to rest in peace. Following his death, it became imperative for me to actively forestall the recurrence of the gory tale and save millions of lives like his, who were toeing the path of ruin," she said, in an emotion laden voice.
So, after her compulsory one-year service in 2015, she started. But how? "I started by traveling  to 24 states in Nigeria to carry out a well-detailed research on major social issues we combat in various communities in the country and I found out that there are several forms on social vices and illicit acts with substance/drug abuse at the peak. My findings, in turn, helped me make informed decisions and this promptly propelled me into doing everything humanly possible to help tackle the menace of substance/drug abuse in Nigeria," she gesticulated.
Every minute that ticks away, someone, somewhere is being raped, can you put yourself in their shoes and tell us what you would have done. Would you choose to die in silence? Or rather open up?
 I won't choose to die in silence.  I would rather open up before it eats me up. I do not really appreciate medicine after death. It is awkward to see rape  victims coming out to speak after several years. You ought  to open up or talk to someone you trust immediately it happened. Don't wait for it to linger on before you talk  If I were in their shoes, I would definitely open up to a trusted confidant for guidance and counselling.. If it is necessary, we report to the appropriate authorities.
Do you think a rapist should be part of this crusade against rape? 
Yes! Why not? Provided the person had turned a new leaf.  They can as well preach against it and even use their stories to change others who want to do it or are still doing it.
Can you reach out to fellow ladies on what they should do if they see a rapist carrying a placard that has the inscription of 'Say No To Rape'?
Some people could be hypocritical, doing eye service just for cheap recognition, meanwhile, within, they are actually sexual predators. If such are spotted, my fellow ladies should conduct a thorough background check.  If they are pretenders, they should be reported and apprehended but if they have changed for good, a second chance is not too bad.
Conclusion
All in all, while I encourage our girls/ladies to be security conscious and imbibe the culture of self-defense,  I equally admonish the government to make more stringent penalties for rapists because the damage the victims suffer is a lifetime trauma.

• Elegance personified