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Oyo, UNICEF Advocate With South West Info Ministries
IBADAN: In a landmark effort to advance children-centred advocacy and effective communication for children’s right actualization, Oyo State Government in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), convened an advocacy dialogue and capacity-building meeting with the Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and top officials from the Ministries of Information across the Southwest states of Nigeria.
The event, themed “Scaling Results for Children Through Evidence-Based Social and Behavioural Change,” was held at Orchid Hotel, Ikota-Lekki, Lagos State. It brought together key stakeholders to explore strategic approaches to drive positive social change, promote children’s rights, and advance gender equity through effective communication practices and evidence-based policy alignment.
Representing the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Oyo State, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, in his keynote address, emphasized that success would be measured not just by policies or meetings, but by real outcomes, well-nourished children, access to clean water and protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to Oyelade, “The wellbeing of women and children through three fundamental pillars of public health Nutrition, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Immunization—are interlinked and vital to the survival, growth, and development of our communities.”
He stressed the need for strategic communication, advocacy, and community engagement on social and behavioral change. “We must ensure our messages are clear, culturally relevant, and widely disseminated. We must amplify grassroots voices and empower programs that drive behavior change,” he said.
“As Commissioner for Information, I am reminded of the power and responsibility that communication holds in the success of any public health intervention. Our communities can only benefit from nutrition programs if they are aware of them. Clean water and sanitation will only be effective when people understand and adopt good hygiene practices. Immunization will only reach its full potential if families trust and accept it.”
Oyelade thanked UNICEF for its continued support through technical expertise and resources. He urged participants to be bold in ideas, open to collaboration, and relentless in their commitment to service. “Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient future for all,” he concluded.
In his remarks, UNICEF’s Chief of Social and Behaviour Change, Abuja, Kshitiy Joshi, emphasized the urgency of rethinking communication as a tool for transformation “The world is changing everyday,” he declared.
He highlighted the importance of data-driven, people-centered communication in shaping public attitudes and behaviors. “We must go beyond awareness to action—addressing deeply rooted norms, influencing behaviors, and ensuring that no child is left behind.”
Joshi further noted that sustainable development for children cannot be achieved without the active involvement of Ministries of Information, who play a critical role in shaping public discourse and influencing societal behavior at scale.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Oyo State, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, represented by Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Bukola Bakare, reiterated the meeting’s goal to improve the wellbeing of women and children and ensure that every child survives, thrives, and grows up in a safe and nurturing environment.
“Essential family practices are simple yet powerful actions that families can take to improve children’s health, nutrition, and development,” he said. “From exclusive breastfeeding and handwashing with soap to proper home care for illnesses and timely immunizations, these practices, when consistently adopted, save lives and lay the foundation for a productive and healthy life.”
In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Osun State, Barrister Kolapo Alimi; Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Communication, Hon. Kayode Akinmade; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Ekiti State, Prince Olusesan Alabi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Olunde Sogunle; and Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Ondo State, Mr. Olanrewaju Akarakiri, commended UNICEF’s strategic role in promoting inclusive communication and policy engagement that prioritizes the welfare of children and women.
They described UNICEF as a trusted partner in progress, whose interventions have significantly impacted communities across the region. The representatives reaffirmed their states’ readiness to partner with UNICEF on future initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children and vulnerable populations in the Southwest.
Independent.ng
News
BREAKING: KWAM 1 Writes Ogun Govt, Accuses Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Plot to Exclude Him From Awujale Selection
Popular Fuji musician and Olori Omooba of Ijebu land, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, widely known as KWAM1, has written to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, alleging that he is being deliberately sidelined from the ongoing process to select the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
Ayinde, in a petition dated January 8, 2026, accused the Fusengbuwa ruling house next in line to produce the monarch of taking actions that allegedly violate the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State. He claimed the moves were designed to disenfranchise him from contesting for the revered throne.
The letter, written on his behalf by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, was addressed to Governor Abiodun and outlined what the Fuji star described as procedural irregularities in the selection process.
According to the petition, the contest for the Awujale stool has attracted over 60 aspirants, with Ayinde formally declaring his interest. However, the Fusengbuwa family has maintained that KWAM1 is not a member of the ruling house and is therefore ineligible to participate in the exercise.
Before writing to the governor, Ayinde had approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu Ode, seeking an interim injunction to restrain Governor Abiodun and six others from continuing with the selection process. The court, however, dismissed the application, ruling that it lacked merit. The musician later withdrew the suit without publicly stating his reasons.
In his latest letter, Ayinde disclosed that the Ijebu Ode Local Government, via a letter dated January 6, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Oke Adebanjo, had approved the commencement of the selection process by the ruling house.
He expressed surprise that while members of the Fusengbuwa family were preparing for a general meeting, the family’s Public Relations Officer, Prince Adeleye Lateef Ademuyiwa, allegedly issued a notice directing aspirants to collect nomination forms and appear before a screening committee.
The screening committee, according to Ayinde, is chaired by Prince Alhaji Mitiu Adenuga. He further alleged that the directive fixed the nomination exercise for Monday, January 12, 2026, while also stating that the process would be conducted by delegates to be selected at a meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026.
Ayinde argued that the sequence of events was confusing, contradictory, and contrary to established laws guiding traditional chieftaincy matters in Ogun State.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Ogun State Government nor the Fusengbuwa ruling house had officially responded to the allegations.
Lagos Reporters will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Awujale succession process and provide updates as the story unfolds.
News
“Do Not Test Trump’s Resolve”: US Issues Fresh Threat To Nigeria
A United States Congressman, Rep. Riley M. Moore, has warned Nigeria not to take the resolve of President Donald Trump with levity, adding that the US president remained steadfast in his bid to protect Christians in Nigeria, while reiterating the false allegation that Christians have continued to face prosecution in the West African country.
Moore’s warning came days after the US president issued another military action in Nigeria, adding that he would not be carrying out a single operation in Nigeria if the alleged Christian persecution continues in the country.
The threat came days after the United States launched a military strike in Sokoto, targeting some terrorist hideouts in the country. The strike affected other states such as Niger and Kwara.
However, Trump, in an interview with The New York Times, published on Thursday, January 8, while responding to questions about a US military strike carried out in Nigeria on Christmas Day, said: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” Trump said.
Moore took to social media to reiterate Trump’s second threat to the country and warned Nigeria against overlooking the threat. His warning did not sit well with many Nigerians, who took to the comment section of the post and expressed their views about his claim. Below are some of their comments:
Omolayo accused the US of bombing a Christian country, Venezuela, and stealing its oil: “What about Venezuela, which is 80% Christian? Trump doesn’t care about Christians, but I grudgingly welcome his presence in the northern part of Nigeria.”
Umar Yusuf Dayyabu knocked the US: “The same US that just finished bombing a Christian country (Venezuela) and is currently stealing their oil is now claiming to want to save Christians in Nigeria. The US only wants our natural resources, that’s it.”
Amadu Yahuza accused the Trump administration of imperialism: “Let’s be clear: if the U.S. is claiming to defend Christians in Nigeria but simultaneously tightens visa access for Nigerians broadly, including Christians, that is not solidarity, it’s hypocrisy. Trump’s statements about Nigerian Christians are political branding, while visa restrictions, federal actions, and international messaging are geopolitical moves.”
Garvy accused the lawmaker of turning a blind eye to the killing of Christians in the US: “I guess you were blind to Christians murdered right in front of your nose in Salt Lake City, and you were blind to that. Suppose their lives don’t matter, right?”
You can read more reactions on X here:
President Trump is serious about his steadfast support to protecting our brothers and sisters in Christ who continue to face persecution in Nigeria.
Do not test @POTUS' resolve. https://t.co/vd8t0LXdKc
— Rep. Riley M. Moore (@RepRileyMoore) January 9, 2026
News
Buhari’s Ex-Minister Pantami Breaks Silence Over Alleged Wedding Plan With Aisha Buhari
False claims linking former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, with former First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, have been dismissed after an independent verification found the story to be entirely fabricated.
The rumour, which spread rapidly across Facebook and X, alleged that the two were planning a marriage and circulated alongside an image described online as a pre wedding photograph.
The post gained wide traction after several users pointed to Aisha Buhari’s completion of her Islamic mourning period following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2025.
Public figures also reshared the image, drawing thousands of comments and reactions and fuelling speculation among social media users.
A fact check carried out by PRNigeria found no credible evidence supporting the claim. Reviews of the verified social media accounts of both Pantami and Aisha Buhari showed no statements or references linked to any marriage plan. Searches across reputable news platforms also returned no matching reports.
Further forensic analysis subjected the viral photograph to InVid verification and artificial intelligence detection tools. The assessment confirmed that the image was digitally manipulated and generated through artificial means, with faces inserted into a wedding-themed template.
Pantami addressed the allegation directly in a phone conversation with PRNigeria.
“It is shocking that anyone would fabricate such a rumour. President Buhari is a father figure to us, and we regard his widow as a mother. The claim is baseless and impossible,” he said.
Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to the late president, also rejected the story on his Facebook page in Hausa.
“The story being circulated that Hajiya Aisha Buhari has agreed to marry Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami is an outright lie. There is absolutely no truth in it whatsoever,” Ahmad wrote.
Additional context emerged from a recently released biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr. Charles Omole and launched at the State House in December 2025. The book records Aisha Buhari as stating clearly that she has no intention of remarrying, citing family responsibilities and a desire for a quieter public life.
The former president died in London on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82. He married Aisha Buhari in 1989 and is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren. Speculation around her personal life increased online after she completed the traditional mourning period in November 2025.
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