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Kwara Declares War On Child Marriage, Gender Violence
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has cautioned that the state will no longer tolerate child marriage.
He threatened to wield full enforcement of laws protecting the rights and dignity of the girl child.
According to him, the warning was a bold stance against entrenched cultural practices threatening the well-being of young girls.
Speaking at a one-day Media Hangout, Capacity Training and Policy Advocacy in Ilorin for selected journalists, non-governmental organisations and other key stakeholders, themed “Safeguarding Our adolescents at homes, schools and communities to reach their full potential”, organised by Chidimma and Havilah Foundation in collaboration with the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the governor warned that early marriage poses grave danger to girls’ health, future and freedom.
He disclosed that the state has domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. “We are fully committed to its implementation. Early marriage is not only a violation of the Child Rights Act, it is a life-threatening menace that leads to complications like obstetric fistula and robs young girls of their dreams,” the governor said.
Represented by the Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima-Imam, AbdulRazaq commended the partnering NGOs, pledging his administration’s support for adolescents in the state.
In his lecture, titled “Empowering the Next Generation: The Media’s Role in Nurturing Safe Environments for Adolescents”, Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare, reinforced the need for national mobilisation and grassroots advocacy to uphold the rights of every Nigerian child.
He said that media literacy, parental responsibility, and sustained government actions are keys to reversing the trend of violence, neglect, and abuse facing Nigerian adolescents.
The NOA boss emphasised the essential role the media plays in shaping the future of adolescents and nurturing safe environments for them.
Dare also outlined several strategies aimed at empowering adolescents to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NUJ Kwara council, Malam Abdullateef Lanre Ahmed, drew attention to the alarming rise in technology-driven gender-based violence, citing recent cases of ritual-related killings involving young girls.
“The tragic case of Hafsoh, a student of Kwara State College of Education, is a wake-up call. We must collectively act to protect our children,” he said.
He called for the holistic implementation of the VAPP Act and urged parents to embrace open conversations around sex education, online safety, and the risks of digital exposure.
In his remarks, the founder of the Chidimma and Havilah Foundation, Mr Tope Omotosho, who spoke through Miss Havilah Omotosho, emphasised the foundation’s dedication to adolescent empowerment, particularly for vulnerable girls.
“Our partnership with the NUJ is to amplify advocacy and create mass awareness on how to protect adolescents, especially the girl-child, within the family, in schools, and the workplace,” he said.
Omotosho lauded the unwavering support of the First Lady of Kwara State, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, describing her as “a dependable ally in the fight for a safe and inclusive society for young girls.”
He pledged the foundation’s continued investment in campaigns, sensitisation programmes, and community engagements aimed at preventing abuse and promoting girls’ education, healthcare access, and personal development.
Veteran broadcaster and former Commissioner for Sports in Kwara State, Alhaji Hameed Adio, challenged media professionals to champion value-based content and combat moral decay among young people.
“The media must take a proactive role in setting new narratives, showcasing excellence, discouraging harmful content, and engaging in advocacy journalism that inspires positive change,” he said.
He urged media houses to embrace digital tools and social platforms to expand their reach, counter misinformation, and promote the autobiographies and success stories of inspirational Nigerians as a counterweight to celebrity culture and sensationalism.
He also called for communal mentorship revival, adding that traditional systems of guidance and discipline must be modernised and institutionalised to protect adolescents from abuse, addiction, and exploitation.
The event brought together journalists, advocates, and civil society leaders to strengthen the role of the media in safeguarding adolescents from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Guardian.ng
The Vice Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo, Professor Sunday Okeniyi, has enjoined the newly employed staff of the institution to develop the spirit of teamwork, respect, and discipline, which are the hallmarks of every successful institution.
Okeniyi disclosed this during the orientation programme for the newly employed staff of the institution.
While welcoming the newly employed staff, he also congratulated them on their successful appointment into the fast-rising institution. “Your joining us today is not by chance, but by merit, commitment, and the will of God. Atiba University is a citadel of learning and character formation, envisioned to nurture and produce men and women of excellence, integrity, and service. By becoming part of this family, you are now co-builders of this noble vision.”
The V-C said the orientation programme was a deliberate initiative of the management to formally integrate the new staff into the University system. “It is designed to give you a clear understanding of our mission, vision, core values, rules, and operational culture. Our goal is not just for you to work here, but for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and leave an indelible mark on the growth and transformation of this University.”
He explained that the university places a premium on academic excellence, innovative research, moral uprightness, and community development. These values define the identity and are the standards the staff must all uphold in their respective assignments—whether as academic staff shaping young minds or as non-teaching staff providing essential support services that make our work possible.
While admitting much needed to be done, Okeniyi said the institution has recorded remarkable progress within a short time. “The future we envision—a future of global competitiveness, leadership in innovation and knowledge, and impact within and beyond Nigeria—requires the collective commitment of every member of staff. That includes you. Your dedication, creativity, and professionalism are needed to propel us forward,” he said.
News
This Is War, Kill Every Single One Of Them – Fani-Kayode Blows Hot Over Zamfara Mosque Massacre
Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the gruesome murder of five worshippers during an early morning prayer in Yandoto village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
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Speaking via his 𝕏 account, he insisted that the killers should be wiped out, adding that there should be no room for discussions or negotiations.
Fani-Kayode asserted that the killers are terrorists not bandits and described their actions as an act of war.
He wrote: “These are not bandits. Pls stop calling them bandits. They are bloodthirsty killers and terrorists and every single one of them should be wiped off the face of the earth.
“If our people cannot worship God in peace then we have nothing. No negotiation, no discussion, no ransom payments, no rehabilitation.
“This is WAR. Kill every single one of them, wipe out their blood line and decimate their communities and abodes. There is no place on earth for those that slaughter innocent civilians.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of failing to address the escalating banditry crisis in the state.
Naija News reports that a deadly attack occurred on Sunday in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, which left several residents and vigilante members dead.
Speaking via a statement on Monday, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, described the massacre as “a despicable and senseless act.”
He blamed the governor for the insecurity situation in the state, noting that it is a monumental leadership failure.
Adewara said, “The gruesome videos of the casualties circulating online make it look like Kwara is now at war. Under AbdulRahman’s watch, terror is reigning, kidnappers are taking over rural villages, and nowhere is safe again.”
The opposition party faulted AbdulRazaq’s alleged silence and absence from the affected community, insisting that a responsible leader should have personally visited Oke-Ode to commiserate with victims’ families and give assurances of decisive action.
It further accused the governor of neglecting local vigilantes and security personnel “battling criminals in the bush,” while diverting funds to “footballers and entertainers outside the state.”
The PDP’s criticism comes amid rising concern in Kwara North, where repeated bandit attacks have forced residents to abandon farms, schools, and businesses.
News
Nigeria @65: Atiku Knocks Tinubu’s Government In Strongly-Worded Independence Day Message; Details Emerge
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has praised Nigerians for what he described as “uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience despite living under suffocating socio-economic and security conditions”
In his Independence Day message to Nigerians, the opposition leader alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had abandoned Nigerians to their fate
Atiku lamented that Nigerians were enduring pains from “raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness all “compounded by the insensitivity of the APC-led administration
In an Independence Day message released by his media office, obtained by Legit.ng, Atiku lamented that Nigerians are enduring excruciating pains from raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness.
The presidential hopeful accused the Tinubu administration of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
Atiku declared: “It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme. But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring.”
Furthermore, Atiku called on citizens not to lose faith, reminding Nigerians that the 2027 election provides a clear opportunity to reject bad leadership and reclaim the promise of a better tomorrow.
He said: “The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people.”
At 65, Atiku noted, Nigeria remains “a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay”.
The 78-year-old blamed Nigeria’s condition on “a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance.”
He bemoaned: “Yet, he urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, insisting that with the right leadership, the country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations.”
PRESS RELEASE
Nigeria @65: @atiku Hails Nigerians’ Courage, Blasts APC Over Economic Strangulation
Former Vice President of Nigeria and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, has paid tribute to the uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience of Nigerians who, despite living under… pic.twitter.com/cPnI9KzxrJ
— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) September 30, 2025
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