Lifestyle

Symposium Seeks Tech-Driven End to FGM

By Web News 227

By Olumide Ogunbiyi

Policymakers, activists, traditional leaders, and development partners have called for technology-driven action to eliminate female genital mutilation, FGM, describing it as a persistent human rights violation that demands scalable, innovative solutions.

The call dominated a multi-sectoral symposium in Ibadan held as part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The event, themed “Leveraging Technology to End Gender-Based Violence,” took place at the Oyo State Local Government Training Centre, Government Secretariat, Agodi.

Delivering the keynote address, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, said FGM remains both a public health emergency and a gross violation of women’s rights despite progress in legislation and advocacy.

“While progress has been made through legislation and advocacy, the deep-rooted cultural beliefs sustaining FGM require smarter, more scalable interventions. Technology offers us unprecedented tools for education, reporting, and support,” she said.

Mrs. Balogun commended collective efforts that have reduced FGM prevalence in Oyo State from 68 percent to 18 percent, describing the development as evidence of the effectiveness of coordinated action.

Also speaking, UNFPA Gender/FGM Analyst for the South West, Mrs Uzoma Ayodeji, said Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of FGM cases globally, with notable prevalence in several states, including parts of Oyo.

“Technology can bridge gaps in data collection, real-time monitoring, and access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors,” she said.

Earlier, Director of the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health (CCPRH), Emeritus Professor Oladosu Ojengbede, presented a draft action plan to the commissioner.

He explained that the proposal outlines a coordination framework, a Ministry/SGBVRT-led technical review, and pathways for integrating digital platforms into both review and implementation.

“We must ensure that technology does not only gather data but triggers action and accountability,” Professor Ojengbede said.

Traditional institutions and community-based organisations at the symposium pledged to intensify awareness campaigns using WhatsApp groups and other digital platforms to amplify anti-FGM messaging.

Participants drawn from the health, education, justice, and traditional sectors also examined integrated approaches to prevention, reporting, and survivor support.

The symposium was organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in collaboration with CCPRH, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

As the 16 Days of Activism continue, Oyo State has positioned itself as a leading force in the fight against gender-based violence, leveraging innovation, collaboration, and sustained political commitment.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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Lifestyle

We remain committed to the welfare of resettled beggars – Oyo Govt

By Web News 496

Oyo State government has announced renewed plans to bring back some of the beggars who have left the Akinyele Resettlement Centre.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola, stated this during an assessment visit to the facility, saying that the state government is willing to accede to some other urgent requests made by the destitute.

She appealed to philanthropic residents to patronize beggars, destitute urchins at the Akinyele resettlement, saying this is the best way to treat them.

The commissioner explained that adequate care has been given to the evacuees at the new facility, which, according to her, is more habitable and conducive.

She said: “Firstly, I want to appreciate the effort of the governor concerning what he has done here. We even have some people in other states who have acknowledged the fact that the good things happening here are not being experienced in their own states. So, it is a great privilege”.

“Concerning those among the destitute leaving this settlement the state government has provided for them, we have interviewed them and they told us that it is because those who give them food no longer come inside the settlement. So, they had to be going outside to get the food from those people. They said if the people will be coming inside to give them food, they won’t have any cause to go outside of this environment”.

“In view of this, I want to urge some of our people who give them food to always try and come into the main resettlement centre because this is the best way to treat the destitute. We should stop giving them stuffs outside”.

“In any case, I have assured them that some of the requests they have made will be tabled before His Excellency, who we know is very kind and I believe the requests will be granted. Also, we will take every necessary step to ensure that those that go outside are returned and remain inside”.

“Another good development about this is, we are making provision for food for them and they don’t complain about that. I have walked around this resettlement and I have seen that the state government has really done well for the destitute. I commend the government for the infrastructure put in place for them and I believe many more things will come for them.”

The permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Christiana Abosede expressed satisfaction with the state of the resettlement centre, stressing that the state government would continue to take good care of the Residents, in as much they stay in the designated camp.

She maintained that efforts are on top gear to recapture those that have absconded the camp to continue their begging business in some major streets of Ibadan.

In their reactions, destitute, beggars met on the ground appreciated the Governor Makinde led administration for providing basic needs for them within the camp.

They however charged the state government to maintain its stand and dislodge those beggars that are floating other colonies on major streets of Ibadan.

Iyabo Adebisi

Environment

Oyo Government Relocates Destitutes, Beggars and the Mentally-Sick

By Web News 1042

Oyo state government has commenced the evacuation of street children, beggars and mentally-sick persons off the streets in Ibadan, the state capital, in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day.

The evacuation exercise which was led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, took the team to Iwo road and Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan North Local Government.

Forty eight people, comprising children, beggars and mentally deranged persons were picked and taken to rehabilitation centers for proper care.

Speaking with the newsmen after the exercise, Alhaja Saani said the evacuation was necessary to make a better living for the affected individuals pointing out that the destitute and those with mental health issues would be taken to rehabilitation centers while children beggars would be taken back to school.

She said, “The raid was meant to clear the streets of street children, beggars, mentally deranged persons who have become an eyesore to the State and to give them necessary attention at the rehabilitation centers while the children will be registered in schools.

“Government noticed recently that there has been an increase in number of destitute in the state and it is quiet alarming. We can give attention to them at the appropriate places instead for them to constitute something unpleasant to the major roads and public places.

“You can see that there are children of school age that were used to beg for alms by their own parent. We have said earlier that the present administration would not close its eyes to such and today, the exercise to clean our public places of such has started. These students are supposed to be in school, but they preferred to use them to beg, even when government has provided free education and free books.

“For those apprehended, we will take their proper documents and move them to rehabilitation homes where government would be responsible for their up keep because we are particular about their welfare and also take them to hospitals for medical care.”

The Commissioner for Women Affairs assured that, the raid would be a continuous exercise across communities in Oyo state.

Iyabo Adebisi