Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) star Alexandra Asogwa, popularly known as Alex Unusual, has shared her experience with bullying in secondary school.
In a video posted on Instagram, Alex addressed parents and guardians as the new school session begins, urging them to teach their children kindness and the importance of standing up against bullying.
In her caption, Alex wrote, “I wrote a letter to you. Send this to a parent, guardian, or teacher. Tag them if you know their handles.
“Share it on other platforms or show them if they are not on social media. I’m not the nicest human on earth, but I know that kindness goes a long way.”
She continued, “Kindness starts at home. Let’s teach our children that their words hold power—to heal, to uplift, to make a difference. When we show them how to stand against bullying and stand up for others, we plant the seeds for a kinder world.”
In the video, Alex recalled an incident from her secondary school days where she stepped in to help a bullied classmate, only to face a similar fate herself.
She recounted how a fellow student was beaten so severely that she fainted after asking a senior not to call her a derogatory name.
Alex described how she carried the unconscious student to the sick bay, with other students running behind her, screaming and crying. The weight of her classmate caused Alex to faint after reaching the sick bay.
“The worst part was when I got back to the hostel, I received my own beating. My crime? Helping her. They said I tried to make others look bad,” Alex shared.
She explained that the “mass beating” involved about 15 to 18 students hitting her simultaneously with hangers, slippers and anything they could find, all while calling her names.
Alex directed her message to parents and guardians, urging them to have meaningful conversations with their children as they enter new school terms
“As they go into new classes or new schools, encourage your kids to be kind, even in moments when it might feel easier to go with the crowd.”
She further emphasised the importance of teaching children not to let their newfound seniority or positions in school get to their heads, warning against using power to seek revenge or mistreat others.
“Explain to them that there is nothing wrong if they don’t have what others have or if they have what others don’t, especially for kids going into senior classes,” Alex advised.
Her message also included a call for parents to create a safe space where their children feel comfortable sharing their experiences with bullying.
“It’s not okay to discriminate, tease, or bully. Encourage them to open up if they’re being mistreated,” she concluded.
