Lifestyle

Symposium Seeks Tech-Driven End to FGM

By Web News 223

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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Economy

Oyo Didtributes Grants to Victims of Market Fire Outbreaks

By Web News 442

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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Politics

OYHA Gives Nod for Two Additional Commissioner Nominees

By Web News 395

By Mosope Kehinde

Oyo State House of Assembly has screened and approved the appointment of two commissioner nominees, Professor Musibau Babatunde and Mrs Toyin Balogun as requested by the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde.

The two commissioner nominees who were absent at the first batch of the screening of Commissioner nominees were asked to take a bow after responding to questions asked by the lawmakers

Speaking with journalists shortly after their confirmation by the house, Professor Babatunde, a former commissioner for budget and planning and Mrs Balogun, Director General, women mobilization, Omituntun 2.0 expressed readiness to put their best in any portfolio assigned to them by the governor.

Earlier, during the plenary presided over by the speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, the house granted approval to Governor Makinde’s request to appoint 20 Special Advisers.

The approval was sequel to a letter of request forwarded to the House of Assembly by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The letter read in part ” I wish to bring to the attention of the House that since the assumption of this administration, I have made only few appointments.  However, there is a need to get other appointees on board to assist the Executive Arm in the implementation of its policies.

” It is as a result of this that I seek the legislatures kind approval to appoint twenty Special Advisers to occupy strategic portfolios. It is pertinent to inform your Honor that my request is in line with Section 196 Subsection 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”

The Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin said the approval was granted to give Omituntun 2.0 a stronger footing.

In another development, the state house of assembly has asked the chairman, Akinyele local government, Mr Taoheed Adedigba to step aside pending investigation into alleged gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

The house however directed his vice, Mr Funso Kayode to take over the council while the secretary should take over the LCDA 1 and the assistant secretary should head LCDA 2 in acting capacity

The assembly also directed the chairman, Ibadan North local government, popularly Mr Shuabu Oladayo to step aside.

Mr Oladayo was also alleged of impunity, abuse of office and misappropriation of local government funds in a petition read on the floor of the house

The house however constituted an adhoc committee headed by Mr Peter Ojedokun to investigate the allegations.

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