Ekiti Govt Deepens Efforts to Protect Children, Empower Women

 

The Ekiti State Government says it is strengthening collaboration with stakeholders to protect children, combat substance abuse and improve the economic wellbeing of women across the state.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, stated this while presenting the ministry’s account of stewardship before the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

Babafemi said the ministry was collaborating with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen the state’s child protection system and address the growing challenge of substance abuse.

She said the ministry had partnered with the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice on advocacy against substance abuse through the “BAO for Healthy Families Outreach” programme.

The commissioner noted that substance abuse had links with gender-based violence, urging parents, community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support government’s efforts to tackle the menace.

She also highlighted the contributions of the Office of the Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, to the educational development of children and youths through scholarships and other forms of educational support.

According to her, the interventions had provided relief to many indigent families across the state.

On women’s economic empowerment, Babafemi said the state government was implementing the World Bank-assisted Nigeria for Women Programme -Scale Up to strengthen women-owned businesses, improve household incomes and enhance family livelihoods.

She disclosed that about 48,000 grassroots women were currently organised into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) across the state under the programme.

The commissioner further disclosed that the ministry had attended to hundreds of family-related cases, with many successfully reconciled.

She said cases requiring judicial intervention were referred to the Family Court for appropriate action.

Babafemi reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with government institutions, development partners, communities and other stakeholders to protect children, empower women and strengthen families.

She said the collaborative approach was essential to building safer, healthier and more resilient communities across the state.