Economy

Oyo Didtributes Grants to Victims of Market Fire Outbreaks

By Web News 480

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State government has distributed cheques of twenty million naira to the victims of fire incidences in four markets in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital to bring succour to the affected traders and as part of its poverty alleviation programme

The markets are Gbaremu, Sango, Oke-Itunu and Oranyan markets. 

Presenting the symbolic cheques to the leadership of the markets, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun said as a responsible government, the step became necessary to support the traders having lost their means of livelihood to fire outbreak. 

Mrs Balogun urged the market executives to be transparent in handling the grant by giving it to the real victims of the fire incidences so as not to defeat the objectives of the grant. 

Mrs Balogun explained that Governor Seyi Makinde’s government would extend the gesture to other affected victims of fire outbreaks across other markets in the state.

The commissioner equally gave an assurance that the state government would organize training for market stakeholders on fire prevention measures across the state to halt future recurrence of fire outbreaks in markets. 

In their remarks, former speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsura Sumonu, Women Leader of People’s Democratic Party in South-West, Chief Bosede Adedibu enjoined market men and women to utilize the grants judiciously. 

Two of the market executives, Adetayo Oluwole and Basirat Ahmed expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for the kind gesture. 

A highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of dummy cheques to the beneficiaries

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Legislature

OYHA Makes Case for Domestication of Women’s Peace Security Agenda

By Web News 474

By Mosope Kehinde 

As part of the effort towards realizing a more peaceful and gender-equitable society, the Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion to collaborate with the United Nations Women and other technical partners for support on the adoption of the resolution of the United Nations, UNSCR 1325.

The urge was contained in a motion presented before the House by the lawmaker representing Ibadan North state constituency II, Honourable Comforter Olajide at the plenary on Wednesday.

The motion was titled, ‘Need for Urgent Adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and National Action Plans (NAPS) to Develop State Action Plan (SAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Towards Realizing a More Peaceful and Gender-Equitable Society in Oyo State’.

Jointly sponsored the motion were Honourable 0. M. Micheal, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, Honourable Akintunde Olajide, and Rilwan Saminu.

The motion is to increase participation and address the needs and challenges of women in the promotion of peace and security.

Honourable Comforter identified violence, sexual assault, food insecurity, and internal displacement as issues affecting the rise of women’s rights in Nigeria, thereby exposing them to various forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

The lawmaker disclosed that the records of the Oyo State Gender Violence Response Team have indicated an increase in the number of violence against women from 132 cases in 2019 to 768 cases in 2021 occasioned by the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honourable Comforter maintained that rigid and cultural norms, low level of literacy, weak legal framework, non-inclusion of women in formal peace-building and conflict resolution processes, and weak capacity of existing government institutions, particularly in the justice sector are factors responsible for the increment in the number.

“Aware that the pervasiveness of violence against women has been attributed to a variety of factors, rigid and cultural norms, low level of literacy, weak legal framework, non-inclusion of women in formal peacebuilding and conflict resolution processes, and weak capacity of existing government institutions, particularly in the justice sector. 

“These and many other reasons have made the United Nations Security Council adopt Resolution 1325 in 2000. UNSCR 1325 introduces the important roles and responsibilities of women in constructing and enduring peace and security architectural framework. It outlines a comprehensive profile and strategic mechanism for the protection, promotion, and participation of women in peace processes.”

In her prayers, Honourable Comforter Olajide, called for a policy framework to enable the state to domesticate the National Action Plan (NAP) to develop the State Action Plan (SAP) on UNSCR 1325 to ensure that the state benefits from numerous grants and programs associated with the Women, Peace & Security Agenda.

“Concerned that among the 16 States in Nigeria that have developed and domesticated the NAP into SAP include Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Rivers, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa, Kwara, and Ekiti. Thus, there is a dire need to ensure that Oyo State benefits from numerous grants and programs associated with the Women, Peace & Security,WPS, Agenda. The development of a State Action Plan on WPS is not only a strategy for gender equality but also a means to promote sustainable peace and security.

“By incorporating a gender perspective and addressing the specific needs of women in conflict and post-conflict situations, our state can create more inclusive and effective policies and programs. By aligning Oyo State with the women’s peace and security, WPS, agenda and by developing a State Action Plan, the state can access grants and programs that support gender-sensitive policies, women empowerment, and peace-building efforts by so doing, Oyo State would also be demonstrating a commitment to promoting the rights, and well-being of women, which contributes to a more just and peaceful society, in overall, empowering women is empowering the whole nation,” Hon. Olajide said.

The Speaker, while passing the resolutions, urged the concerned ministry to collaborate with the United Nations Women and other technical partners for support on the adoption of the resolution.

“I Urge the Executive Arm of Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion to collaborate with the UN Women, an organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s rights and ensure that every woman and girl live up to her full potential, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and other relevant technical partners to have necessary technical support for the adoption of the State Action Plan on WPS to enable our Pace Setting state to have access to grants, interventions and programmes,” Ogundoyin said.

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Environment

Oyo Government Plans another Resettlement Facility

By Web News 877

The government of Oyo State, on Wednesday, again evacuated over 400 beggars and destitute within the Ibadan metropolis.

It equally declared its plans to provide another resettlement centre for the beggars and destitute in the capital city.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola, stated this when she led the raiding team on the evacuation of beggars and destitute from Jemibewon/Mokola/Sango University of Ibadan main gate.

Other areas captured during the evacuation exercise include Challenge/Oja’ba, Oje/Bodija, Iwo Road/Gbagi and Basorun Akobo routes.

While speaking with the journalists shortly after the exercise, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Olayiwola explained that the government is hell-bent on returning sanity by ensuring that beggars and the destitute keep off the streets and roads.

She said: “The government of the day is not interested in seeing the destitute and beggars on our roads without being fed and looking battered. As a result of this, the government provided a settlement for them, where they can be well fed, given proper health care and enjoy other facilities but we still discovered that they go outside to beg and do other things that this government seriously frowns at.”

“Yes, the government is planning to provide another settlement area for them apart from the one here in Akinyele. Though we have returned some of these beggars, who have been rehabilitated back to their families, having taken their profile and know where they belonged.”

“The next thing we are planning to do now is to employ security guards to take control of the gates so as to prevent them from going outside to beg for alms.”

“When we went out today to raid markets and neighboring streets, we were able to evacuate over 400 of them back into the settlement the government has provided for them and we are still expecting more.”

“We all know that the focus of this administration is to ensure the lives of the less privileged are improved upon and that is what it has been doing.”

“The destitute and beggars in Oyo State need care, affection, rehabilitation and resettlement. All these have been taken care of by the state government. But despite the care and comfort being given to them at the resettlement centre in Akinyele, we have observed that some of them are very stubborn to the extent that they still stray back to the street but the government is hell-bent on ensuring that they stay at the provided centre.”

“We want to make sure that we enforce the law and implement their full stay in the centre. The government will continue to do this as we now raid in the afternoon and evening hours. So, we are ready to tackle the stubbornness of these destitute.”

“Also, we sincerely appreciate the level of cooperation of the citizenry on this development. They have been so supportive and we will continue with the exercise until they comply with the orders of the state government.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Christiana Abioye noted that necessary attention and more facilities have been provided for the evacuees to make it more habitable and conducive for them.

“We see no reason why they should not stay here just as the government has directed. We will not rest on our oars until we rid the state of them totally,” She added.

Meanwhile, a resident of Oyo State, Mr Wasiu Gunwa, expressed joy on the evacuation exercise, as he affirmed that the beggars create all sorts of problems in the environment.

Mr Gunwa prayed for the government to do more so as to ameliorate the challenges of the less privileged.

Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun

Commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism

Oyo State