Oyo State Government has distributed cash and food items to 1000 elderly residents of the State and some elderly focused NGOs, restating it’s commitment to catering for the welfare of the elderly in the society.

This was as it declared it’s readiness to designate  one primary health care center in every local government area of the State for the care of elderly people.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, stated this on Monday at an event organized in commemoration of the international Day for the elderly, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.

She noted that Governor Makinde led Government has been people centric by putting in place several interventions that are aimed at making life more meaningful for all segments of the society.

According to the Commissioner, the State Government will soon kick start an elderly friendly healthcare centers in 9 local government areas, which will later be expanded to other councils before 2027.

The Commissioner noted that the event, themed ” Ageing with dignity” was held to add value to the lives of the elderly demographic and to teach them on how to live a fulfilling life, free from health challenges, neglect and isolation.

She said “This is a Government that is people centric. This Government is putting in place interventions that are in the best interest of the people”.

“In some communities the elderly ones are being looked at with derision, but the Government of Governor Makinde is committed to leaving no one behind. My Ministry is responsible for the welfare of women, children, elderly and the physically challenged ones.

“We consider our elderly ones as a valued source, because these are people who have lived their lives in the service of their families, children and society at large.

We think it is very important for us to make sure that we support them in their old age.

“We are hoping, by next year, to expand the scope so that we can onboard more elderly people. Also, we are working in collaboration with a number of NGOs and agencies that have competencies in the care of the elderly.

“We have put in place plans that are going to be sustainable even beyond the lifetime of this Government. One of them is social welfare intervention and we are hoping to be able to take action next year such that the elderly will benefit from stipends once every two or three months.

“In addition to that, we are going to be designating one PHC as an elderly-friendly health care center. And in the last discussion we had, we said it is better for us to scale our intervention so that we can monitor and measure the result.

“So, our plan is to deploy to the first nine local government areas and after six months, we will re- assess and expand.

Also speaking, the guest lecturer and Nutritionist, Dr Tunde Ajobo, appreciated the Makinde led administration for implementing policies that are friendly to the aged, including the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, among others.

He equally charged members of the society to take care of their old ones so that they can enjoy their old age, just as he called on the Government to organize sensitization programmes for the aged across wards and local government levels.

Stressing that people should be aware of changes in their body system as they advance in  age. He said the major thing that happens in old age is pronounced dehydration. If they don’t drink enough water it affects them adversely.

He explained further that, if an elderly begins to  skip meals, it is another thing to actually look into. It will surely have a long term effect, because it can lead to nutrient deficiency. As one is ageing, his stomach gets compacted and not as wide as when we are at youth. Even if they are going to take a small meal it must be adequate and nutritious.

In their separate remarks co-chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade and the member representing Ibadan North Constituency l in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Comforter Olajide, appreciated the Governor  Makinde led administration for its unwavering commitment to the people of the State across different age grades and social strata.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Olugbenga Jegede, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the event, commended the State Government for organising the event which he described as timely and a good one.

Other side attractions of the event includes  “ayo olopon” game, cultural dance display and palm wine drinking.

“Empowerment of women is the easiest way to entrench sustainable development. Empirical data gathered on bank loans shows that women are very credit worthy. When the female demographic is empowered, it trickles down to the most vulnerable in our society because no woman will have money in her pocket and ignore the needs of her children

Empowerment of women is also critical for the reduction and elimination of societal ills such as the Out of School Children menace, drug abuse and other malfeasances”

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon Mrs Toyin Balogun stated these during an engagement with the Country Director of the Women in Agricultural Technical Education and Apprenticeship in Nigeria (WATEA) Project; Ms Zaina Sore Koutou in company of the Project Coordinator for the South West Mr Onasanya on the 19th of July

This was sequel to an engagement of the donor sponsoring this project, the French Govt rep and the Country Director Ms Zaina Sore Koutou with His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde few days ago

The WATEA

team were on hand to make a presentation to the Commissioner and her team on the scope of the proposed collaboration with Oyo State

Ms Zaina Koutou explained that this initiative is intended to benefit 3,000 students in Technical Colleges nationwide, 80% of which must be women.

In Oyo State, 500 students of the Technical College in Ibarapa are to benefit, 400 of which must be women

The projected outcomes from this collaboration between the French Govt /IITA and Oyo State Govt include but not limited to the following:

1. Technologies, insights and experiences from developed Countries are incorporated into the curriculum of study at the Technical College in 3 sectors of Agriculture.
2. This will make graduates of this institution either more employable or provide them with capacity to become employers of labour themselves.
3. This will greatly reduce the unemployment index with positive implications for Food Security
4. There is also an Exchange Program element to this collaboration with travel to France incorporated to enable beneficiary students experience first hand modern agricultural best practices

According to Hon Balogun, this is a very timely collaboration given that agriculture is one of the corner stones of the Governor Seyi Makinde led govt through which he intends to solve the challenge of Food Security and to diversify the earning base of the State.

The Commissioner stressed that she bears a burden to empower the large proportion of indigent women in the State through interventions from various sectors of the economy, one of these being agriculture where we have a comparative advantage of arable land compared to other south west States

The Commissioner stated that she’s also presently in talks with Amo Sanders, a notable entity in agribusiness with a view to training and empowering some of our indigent women through Noiler Poultry Farming which will not only empower our women economically, it also has implications for reducing the malnutrition index and stunting in our children, Food Quality and Food Security

She stated further that both her ministry and OYSADA are presently collaborating on various interventions, Works In Progress, which will see a lot of our women who are presently unemployed and indigent getting involved in the agricultural value chain from production of food crops like tomatoes, pepper, onions, rice etc. to cash crops and allied products like shea butter, cotton (for the manufacture of Aso Oke), aloe vera to animal husbandry, Goatry etc. Also, another agribusiness based collaboration with the World Bank is in the offing.

Part of her vision is to with His Excellency’s approval, incorporate as many of our indigent women/female farmers as possible into the agricultural value chain  in each of the 33 local govts to reduce food scarcity and the possibility of Oyo State serving as the food basket of the South West in the first instance and the entire Southern Nigeria in the larger picture

She also explained that the Ministry is planning to host an engagement with female farmers in the State soon with a view to understanding the peculiar challenges they face which militate against their ability to perform maximally

This will enable the ministry come up with creative  solutions which will help maximize their productive capacity

According to the Country Rep of the French govt/IITA collabo Mrs Zaina Sore, the WATEA project is born out of the fact that hitherto, little attention has been given to the attractiveness and quality of Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training in Nigeria which can contribute substantially to increasing productivity, resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Ms Soure explained that young women are not exposed to  agricultural technical education, which is perceived as outdated and lacking in decent job prospects but the demand for qualified agrifood technicians is significant and increasing which is presenting an opportunity for young women to access gainful employment or self employment.

She stated that the project will operate in six pilot States which is organized into three regional clusters based on their strategic geographic location and they are: Kwara and Oyo States for the South West, Anambra and Enugu States for the South East while Kano and Jigawa States are taken from the North.

Soure stressed further that the project is in two tranches and the training will be for two years at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora (OYSCATECH) and the collaborating MDAs are Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Ministries of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion, Agriculture and Education

Mrs Kemi Omotosho

INFORMATION OFFICER

MIN OF WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION

The Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs) Toyin Balogun in order to underscore the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Governor Seyi Makinde led Government for Sexual & Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases in  Oyo State appeared in court on Monday in expression of empathy, solidarity and support to the 9 year old Girl Child Survivor of a rape incident

The Commissioner immediately swung into action on the 6th with her team from the ministry by collaborating with requisite security agencies, lawyers from FIDA and the Family Court to ensure that justice is served in the interest of the Girl Child involved immediately she received the heartbreaking report of the rape of the minor, which took place on the 6th of July around Moniya axis of the State from a public spirited individual, a youth corper who lives around that general location who alerted her.

According to her, the young girl child survivor is presently in the custody of the Ministry in a safe and secure environment where she is being given adequate care, psychological and psycho- social support to ensure this horrific experience does not derail her life trajectory irretrievably nor define her journey, so she can grow/rise above this to become a productive member of society in future

She said the suspected perpetrator who absconded on the day of the incident has since been tracked down and arrested. His wife was picked up when he absconded but has been released once the perpetrator was found and arrested by the police

“The perpetrator was charged to court yesterday (Monday) morning and has been remanded to jail. He will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law to determine his guilt or otherwise.”

“His remand happened with the Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion and representatives of Child Welfare Dept. Women Program dept. and the NSCDC present”

“The Ministry under my watch is determined to protect the interest of all children in Oyo State in general and are also committed to securing justice for the survivor in this instance.”

“Appreciation to the new CP and his team, same also goes for the NSCDC who have given the requisite support in aid of the Ministry’s efforts to ensure that justice is served.”

“The Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion will be working with professional advice from the Commissioner’s Learned Colleague; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to ensure that Justice is secured for the Survivor who in this case is a minor.”

“The Government of His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde is committed to walking it’s talk on its Zero Tolerance to Sexual & Gender Based Violence Policy in Oyo State,” the Commissioner said.

WHAT IS CHOLERA

Cholera is a sudden illness that happens when a person accidentally ingests (swallows) Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) bacteria. When the bacteria infect a person’s intestines, they can cause very bad diarrhea and dehydration.

These complications can sometimes lead to death.

The bacterial infection usually happens in places without modern systems for sewage and clean water

Cholera outbreaks are common in warm climates. Outbreaks sometimes happen after natural disasters, like earthquakes and hurricanes. These disasters can damage sewage systems.

Symptoms and Causes

Cholera comes from the V. cholerae bacteria. People infected with these bacteria can spread disease through their feces. They do so when infected feces get into the water system. If the water isn’t properly sanitized  people using the water to drink, cook and wash risk exposure.

When a person eats or drinks food or water that contains V. cholerae, the bacteria grow inside them. The bacteria then make the small intestines secrete (leak) fluid, leading to diarrhea.

Cholera usually doesn’t spread directly from person to person, but it can. So it’s very important to wash your hands to prevent infection.

Some people have gotten cholera from eating seafood.

Symptoms of Cholera

Cholera infection can be mild, with no symptoms. But about 10% of infected people develop severe symptoms, 12 hours to five days after ingesting the bacteria. These symptoms include:

• Diarrhea, or extremely watery poop.
• Intense thirst.
• Lower amounts of urine
• Muscle cramps.
• Restlessness or irritability.
• Vomiting.
• Weakness.

If you develop any of these cholera symptoms, immediately contact a hospital because dehydration can become deadly very quickly.

Early treatment can save your life.

What problems can cholera cause?

Diarrhea and vomiting from cholera can make your body lose large amounts of important substances:

• Electrolytes.
• Fluids.
• Sodium.
• Potassium.

When your body doesn’t have enough of those things, you get dehydrated and may develop the following:

• Dry mucous membranes (such as in the eyes, nose and mouth).
• Fast heart rate.
• Hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
• Hypotension (low blood pressure).
• Loss of the natural stretchiness in skin.
• Untreated, severe dehydration from cholera can lead to:
• Kidney failure.
• Shock.

Anyone with cholera should immediately replace the fluids and salts they’ve lost.

If you’re in an area with cholera cases, certain strategies can help prevent infections:

• Use clean, running water only
• Don’t eat raw or undercooked seafood.
• Drink water only if it’s bottled, canned, boiled or treated with certain chemicals. And don’t drink out of a bottle or can with a broken seal.
• Make sure foods eaten are freshly, hygienically cooked and served hot.
• Consider disinfecting your water: Boil it for at least one minute.
• Wash fruits and vegetables with clean water.

Wash your hands with soap and clean running water, especially before handling and eating food and after using the bathroom. If clean water and soap aren’t available, use hand sanitizer made of at least 60% alcohol.

Wash your hands often.

Together we can end the scourge of cholera in our communities

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in Oyo State, Hon (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, has expressed her thankfulness to Allah (SWT) for granting the grace to the Muslim Ummah in Oyo State to see another Eid-el-Kabir celebration

She expressed her gratitude to the Almighty by the distribution of rams, cow meat, food items and cash to Islamic leaders, Muslim faithful and different vulnerable groups from the 33 local governments of the state.

This initiative was predicated upon the holiday’s core values of sacrifice and sharing with inspiration from the trying times experienced by Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) who never stopped extending a hand of fellowship and love to other despite his own challenges and particularly her dedication towards welfarism for women groups, widows, children, the elderly & the physically challenged in our society

In her statement, she emphasised the imperative for her to complement the efforts of her Principal; His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde in his drive to improve the quality of life lived by his people, particularly during these trying times and especially for the vulnerable members of society.

“This holiday is a reminder of our responsibility to extend love to our Brothers and sisters within the Muslim Ummah, to care for our neighbors, the less privileged and other vulnerable members of society,” she said.

This initiative, she stated, was motivated particularly in the light of the ongoing economic crisis in the Country.

With inflation on the rise, agitation for salary increment by organized labor which will exacerbate the economic crisis once granted and food insecurity affecting millions, this initiative, she believes, is a lifeline for many families struggling to make ends meet.

Balogun also acknowledged Governor Seyi Mankinde’s pivotal role in fostering peace and unity in the state with his even handed distribution of development across all zones and his model of inclusivity for all major faiths across board

She described the Governor as “an iconic and worthy role model, a shining example of selflessness and generosity of spirit,” citing his commitment to providing infrastructure and also his support for social welfare initiatives and interventions that will benefit our people, particularly from the vulnerable demographic in the State

“His Excellency’s commitment & dedication to serving the people of Oyo State is highly commendable and emulatable.

I am inspired by his positive precepts to emulate his leadership mantra which can be encapsulated as ‘Selfless service to the people’, and have keyed into his  drive to create a more equitable and just society,” she said.

I wish the entirety of the Muslim Ummah both home and abroad and all the vulnerable groups in our society a very happy Eid Ul Adha!

Oju wa a ma a rodun o!

Hon (Mrs) Toyin BALOGUN

Commissioner For Women Affairs & Social

Inclusion.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has affirmed that the future of Nigeria as a nation depends on the quality of education and skills we provide for our children.

Speaking on Monday at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex Adamasingba, Ibadan during the year 2024 National Children’s Day Celebration, Governor Makinde noted that it takes the collective responsibility to ensure that our children receive the best possible start in life.

He maintained that education is the foundation upon which our children’s future success is built.

Governor Makinde who was ably represented at the event by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun said, “The future of our nation depends on the quality of education and skills we provide to our young ones. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they receive the best possible start in life as quality education is the foundation upon which our children’s future success is built. It is the key to unlock their potentials, fostering critical thinking, creativity and innovation.”

“Education empowers them to make informed decisions, adapt to an ever-changing world, and become active contributors to our society.”

“However, education alone is not enough, skill acquisition is equally vital in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, our children need to be equipped with practical skills that meet the demands of the 21st century. They must be able to problem-solve, communicate effectively and be digitally literate.”

“It is pertinent to state that the reality is that many Nigerian children are denied this fundamental right, they face numerous barriers, including inadequate infrastructure, outdated curriculum and insufficient resources. This is unacceptable. Every child deserves access to quality education and skills training, regardless of their background, location or socio-economic status.

In addition, African parents sometimes expose their children to child labour, kidnapping, rape, malnutrition and all forms of abuse. A lot has to be put in place, to help break the vicious cycle of inequality among all groups of children. The world of tomorrow cannot prosper if children of today are not healthy, educated and protected because lack of investment in quality services for children are one of the key barriers that prevent many children from reaching their full potentials.

I would therefore urge us all to put all hands on deck and commit to improving access to quality education, especially in underserved areas, invest in teacher training and development, to provide resources and infrastructure for schools, promote inclusive and equitable education, encourage skills acquisition through vocational training and extracurricular activities, foster partnership between schools, communities and organizations.”

“It is pertinent to mention that the Oyo State Government under the current administration has been proactive in the promotion of quality education and skills development of children in the State, most especially orphans and vulnerable children in the State through the following intervention programmes which are:

1. Increased access to quality education at primary and secondary levels for all eligible Oyo State children
2. Encouraging private providers to provide quality and affordable education to children of Oyo State
3. Provision of scholarship for brilliant students to encourage competition in public schools
4. Giving waivers to children most especially the vulnerable and less privileged ones to access free quality education and health services in the State
5. Rescue and placement of abused children to enable them receive care and support services and promoting their rights to survival, protection, development and participation, provision of medical assistance, counselling and shelter to the victims of child abuse among others, Makinde said.

The Governor however called on well meaning Nigerians to collaborate with his Government towards providing good quality education for the young ones.

He said, “Let us together create a State where every child can thrive, reach their full potentials and contribute to our nation’s  growth and prosperity, the total well-being of the Nigerian child is our collective responsibility, let us rise to the challenge and build a brighter future for our children, our nation and ourselves.”

Highlights of the event include match past, cutting of the celebration cake, presentation of certifications of participation to all the schools in attendance, cultural performance among others.

Students of Straight Twise Model School, Olomi Ibadan emerged overall winner at the primary schools category of the match past competition, with a 74% score, while IDV Model School, Erinkoja Obe came second with 64%, Lydel Kiddies Nursery and Primary School, Felele clinched 3rd position with 60%.

St. Anne’s School Molete Ibadan emerged 1st position at the Secondary School category with 80%, Oladipo Alayande School of Science came second position at the category while TMM Secondary School emerged third position with 65%.

Dignitaries at the event include, the Head of Service Mrs. Olubunmi Oni (mni), State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Salihu Adelabu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Hon Wasilla Adegoke,Chairman Local Government Pension Board, Honorable Ademola Ige, top government officials, traditional rulers, religion leaders, among others.

The Oyo State Government led by His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde has proven it’s resolve to cushion the effects of economic hardship on indigent students and their parents by instituting initiatives that remove any impediments that can hinder them from accessing the Free Education Program of his Government

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun stated this while giving out free school supplies (exceptionally good quality back backs, school bags, exercise books, water bottles and other related supplies) to students at the “Back to School Giveaway Program” organised by her Ministry.

The “Back To School Giveaway Program” is to be organised in the 3 Senatorial Districts of the State: Oyo North, Oyo Central & Oyo South

The flag off event was held at Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin on Friday 17/05/24 to great fanfare and excitement by both notable citizens of the LG and beneficiary students from the 13 local governments of Oyo North Senatorial district

The Honorable Commissioner explained that the inspiration for the program was received during the last campaign of the Governor when she served as the Director of Women Mobilization for his 2nd term bid.

She stated that while returning from campaign at one of the LGs, she observed that many of the students returning home from school were carrying their books in cement bags or rice bags

This touched her deeply because, it showed that while their parents were eager to key into the Free Education Program of Governor Seyi Makinde, many of them were still unable to provide even the most basic school supplies for their children

On getting to Ibadan, she discussed her observations with His Excellency and being the fatherly and empathetic leader that he is, he almost immediately provided school supplies which the then DG Women Mobilization (Mrs. Balogun) proceeded to distribute at all the local government visited throughout the duration of the entire campaigns.

The Honorable Commissioner further explained that not only will school supplies be distributed to all Senatorial Districts in the State, the Back To School Giveaway Program has been approved by His Excellency as a fundamental program of her Ministry, which will be reinstated every term when schools resume.

This will reduce the Out Of School Children Index of the State as that impediment is taken away from parents and will ensure more indigent students are able to benefit from the Free Education Program of this Government.

Further expatiating, she observed that Oyo State is blessed, because we have a Governor who understands how far education can take one in life and the fact that education is one of the fundamental pillars of sustainable development

Hon (Mrs.) Balogun stated that while UNESCO instituted a benchmark of 18-20% in annual budgets for Education for Countries serious about attaining sustainable development, Governor Makinde overshot that benchmark by providing a whopping 25% in this year’s budget for education!

The Commissioner ended her comments by advising the beneficiaries to make good use of the gifts, pay attention to their studies so they can become productive members of the society

She stated that she and the Governor are looking forward to meeting some of the beneficiaries 10 to 15 years later to hear that they have been motivated by this program to become doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, manufacturers and other productive members of society.

In line with the Social Inclusion mandate of her ministry, Hon Balogun further reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Gov Makinde led govt to continued implementation of policies, interventions & programs that prioritize access to social welfare & quality education for all, regardless of socio-economic background, gender or faith.

In his goodwill message, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola Adeyeri III, Ajirotutu I appreciated this gesture of the Governor for prioritising and making education a cardinal program of his govt.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Saliu Adelabu, represented by the Permanent Secretary/Inspector of Education, Engr. Adebayo Salam stated that Education has the largest percentage in year 2024 budget which indicate the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde to quality education.

In her welcome address, the PS, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Popoola stated that Education has always been at the forefront of Government efforts to uplift and empower communities.

Also present were a member of the Local Govt Service Commission & a leader from Atisbo LG Hon Nike Arewa and Dr. Mrs. Toyin Ajiboye a don from the University of Ibadan and Child Development Consultant who advised the beneficiaries to face their studies so as to become notables in society like our eminent Governor

Mrs. Kemi Omotosho

MEDIA OFFICER

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION OYO STATE

The Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun has vowed that the State Government will not shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of Sexual and Gender- Based Violence (SGBV).

The Commissioner made this known during a day stakeholders sensitization meeting on SGBV and COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP) held at Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovative  Studies, Awolowo Road, Bodija, Ibadan.

She reiterated that under the existing laws in the State, there is no hidden place for perpetrators of such preposterous act.

Mrs. Balogun noted that Violence Against Person Prohibition Law (VAPP), Sexual and Gender Based Agency/Referral Centre Laws had been signed into laws, hence perpetrators of SGBV in the State are punishable under these existing laws.

The Commissioner opined that as Policy Makers, we should not be onlookers but Social Architects striving for systemic change to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable through fair and effective legal systems, regardless of their social status or position of power.

Mrs. Balogun stated further that it is our collective responsibilities to brainstorm against future outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious and communicable diseases as well as Preparedness plan from the perspective of sexual and gender based violence.

The Commissioner said that “SGBV knows no boundaries, it affects people of all ages, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds, stressing that it is a violation of human rights and dignity which thrives in environments where inequalities, determination and impunity exists”.

She therefore enjoined that victims must be supported with accessible and survivor-centered services, including healthcare, legal aids, counseling and safe shelter, adding that silence and stigma surrounding SGBV should be broken to ensure that victims are met with belief, validation and support when they come forward.

Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Dolapo Popoola charged all participating stakeholders to unite in a shared mission to equip themselves with the knowledge, tools and compassion needed to combat these harmful practices and injustice, stressing that, with oneness we can build safer communities and advocate for the dignity and well-being of all individuals.

Papers delivered at the sensitization meeting includes Understanding Legal Framework/Prosecution for SGBV Offenders, Stakeholders Collaboration for effective Mitigation of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH), Implementing Psychosocial Support for Victims of SGBV and Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Abiamo)in the context of SGBV.

Present at the meeting were the  Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion Hon. Mrs. Toyin Balogun, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Dolapo Popoola and Stakeholders chosen from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Justice, and Directors of Social Services from the 33 LGAs in State.