“The responsibility of taking care of women and children in Ondo State as well as fighting for their just course lies with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Hence, we would support your programme to make it successful, as we are stakeholders in ensuring our children are protected against child labour and other social vices.”
This is the position of the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Deaconess Omolola Fagbemi when a team of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Abuja recently paid her a visit in her office to intimate her about a developmental project courtesy the ILO.
Henry Johnson Olagundoye, media director of the ministry reports that Mrs Fagbemi appreciated the team for choosing Ondo State as the first state to enjoy this opportunity in Nigeria. She applauded the team for coming up with this project, as it would impart positively on the lives of our children, who are future leaders of this country.
Earlier, the head of the team, Dr. Agata Kolawole thanked the Commissioner for her audience despite her tight schedules.
She said the courtesy call was meant to update the Commissioner on the ongoing project by the ILO, which is Action against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa (ACLAWA) Project, which would be presented to the state government officially on the 20th and 21st of May, 2024.
She said 10 communities have been chosen for the project in Ondo State. According to her, the project is funded by the United States Department of Labour (USDOL) and it’s committed to eliminating child labour in West Africa’s Agricultural sector.
In a related development, the Hon. Commissioner played host to the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Unit of the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps also in her office. She applauded the unit for being a major stakeholder in the crusade against Gender Based Violence in the state.
The Commissioner expressed her delight on the achievements recorded this far by the unit saying, the synergy between the unit and the ministry cannot be taken for granted, as it has yielded good results. She expressed the ministry’s readiness to always collaborate with the unit as and when due, as they are both working to achieve the same goal.
Earlier, the Unit head Mrs Ayodele Caroline Bolanle felicitated the Commissioner on her new appointment, describing it as a round peg in a round hole. She said her team was on Advocacy visit to update the Commissioner with the achievements the unit has recorded and areas of assistance from the ministry.
Ayodele Caroline said the unit has been in existence for the past five years and has recorded lots of land mark achievements in areas of handling and prosecution of cases of defilement of minor, rape, child abuse, juvenile delinquency, pregnancy denial, abandonment, family crises as well as domestic violence.
In a related development, Mrs Fagbemi has berated the growing cases of human trafficking in the society adding that it is a sin to God and humanity.
Mrs Fagbemi made this statement while playing host to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Ondo State Command in her office.
She applauded the efforts of the Agency in the state but said there were still loopholes to be filled.
According to her, the state government under the leadership of Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa would give necessary support to eliminate human trafficking in our state.
Fagbemi enjoined NAPTIP to do more in carrying out its assignments as more is expected of them. She promised to partner with the agency to fulfill its mandate, as they are partners in progress. She enjoined them to do more advocacy in order to sensitize the public on their activities.
Earlier, the State Commander of NAPTIP Ondo State Command, Mr Taiwo Adegboyega appreciated the working relationship which exists between his agency and the Ministry even before the assumption of office of the Hon. Commissioner. He said he enjoyed this harmonious relationship and sought it to be sustained.
According to him, women are the most vulnerable to human trafficking hence, we are partners because we fight the same enemies. He affirmed that they are in town for serious business and they won’t henceforth take it easy with traffickers.
Adegboyega posited that they have 5 cardinal points approach with which they carry out their operations, which are Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Policy and Partnership. He emphasized that the ministry is germane and pivotal to its operations in the state and this called for a courtesy visit.
In a related development, the Hon. Commissioner played host to Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency’s team also in her office. She appreciated them for the achievements recorded in the health sector, which according to her is commendable. She promised to encourage the Agency so that it could do more to the benefit of mankind.
The Commissioner said her ministry would partner and collaborate with the agency in carrying out its flag off ceremony on Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine (HPV). According to her, the flag off is symbolic as it coincides with the National Children’s Day Celebration slated for Monday, 27th May, 2024.
Fagbemi admonished the team to communicate in the language the children would understand while flagging off the programme and encouraged them to take the programme to the local governments so that the information could get to the nooks and crannies of the state.
Earlier, the leader of the team, Dr Victor Adefesoye who is the Director, Immunisation and Disease Control of Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency informed the Commissioner that their courtesy visit was meant to intimate her on the flag off ceremony of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine (HPV) on Monday, 27th May, 2024, which coincides with the National Children’s Day Celebration.
He sought the support of the ministry in having a successful outing, as the children day celebration would be a veritable platform to launch the vaccine. According to him, the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine is targeted at female children of age 9 to 14. The programme according to Adefesoye, would last for 5 days, from 27th to 31st May, 2024.
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