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Government Committed To Protecting The Edo Child, Says PS, Gender Issues

Published

3 years ago

August 25, 2022

The Edo State Government is committed to protecting every child particularly the girl child in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Mrs. Barbara Osobajo, disclosed this while declaring open a workshop on alternative care guidelines for vulnerable persons’ pre-validation with orphanage operators in the state.

The pre-validation meeting was centered on the available alternative care guidelines for vulnerable children as well as a working document that forms and guides the implementation and monitoring of alternative care services in the state.

According to her, the meeting was yet another deliberate effort of the Edo State Government to implement institutional reforms, but this time to strengthen the operations of orphanages and other alternative caregivers in the state.

She emphasized that the guidelines for alternative child care are intended to supplement the Edo State’s Child Rights Law and relevant provisions of other legal instruments applicable in Edo State concerning the protection and well-being of children who are at risk of being deprived of parental care.

She explained: “The crux of the pre-validation meeting is to look at the way we can strengthen how orphanages are run in Edo State, so the Ministry in collaboration with an International Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Societas Socialis (SOS) Children’s Villages came together and brought our partners, the orphanage operators on board to intimate them with what that guideline is all about so that by the time we are launching, it will not be strange to them and there wouldn’t be resistance.

“Part of the reform is to empower the orphanages and keep our Home Operators up to speed on these guidelines, in conjunction with applicable legislation and Policies. With that in view, it is therefore safe to say that we are gathered primarily in the best interest of our children in need of parental care and protection.”

In her remarks, the Director of Child Development Department, Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Mrs. Kate Bello, stated that the alternative care guideline is a pathway for enhancing service delivery among orphanages in Edo State.

She said, “This document that we intend to launch will help to streamline other homes which are not up to standard to standardize orphanages in Edo State.

“While they are transiting from orphanages to a family-like care system which will help better the children to have a family, we hope that after the launch of the document, orphanage operators would run with it to eliminate crimes such as the sales of babies.”

On her part, Barr. Elisabeth Iyamuogie, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Benin City, who spoke on the regulatory role of the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, said the Ministry has the legal mandate to supervise orphanages.

According to her, supervision can be carried out by inspecting things in the homes, whatever it is that needs to be inspected and it will be wise that these orphanages comply with these new guidelines.

Also, an Operator of Trinitarian Foundation for Orphans and the Helpless, Sister Mary Agatha, commended the Ministry and said that the program will give the orphans hope and they can be sure to be in places they can call their home.

The Edo State Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues is saddled with the regulatory responsibility of overseeing the activities of orphanages and it is using the event to bring orphanage operators to communicate the provisions of the alternative care guidelines expected to be launched in the coming weeks as the new guidelines are expected to spell out penalties for any home that runs fowl as it gears toward giving every Edo child a meaningful life.

News

Immigration Officer Gets N5m For Arresting Fleeing Ritualist

Published

5 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

An immigration officer, Ugochukwu Orji, who arrested a fleeing Enugu State-based native doctor accused of killing and kidnapping people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million for his efforts by an industrialist, Ebuka Onunkwo.

Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, according to a press statement released by his media team on Tuesday.

Orji was at his duty post along the Seme Border area last month when the fleeing native doctor, popularly known as “Ichie Billion” attempted to use a motorcycle to cross over to the Benin Republic from Nigeria at Seme Border, but having seen his face on the internet, he quickly intercepted him.

Recall that “Ichie Billion”, who hails from Umuojor village in the Isiagu Community of Enugu State, had been on the run after being declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in connection with the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl and alleged multiple ritual killings.

The native doctor was thereafter intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently handed over to the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest at the border by the immigration officers.

Onunkwo, an industrialist, while presenting a cheque of ₦5 million to the immigration officer at his residence, said the gesture was part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and encouragement for moral renaissance in the society.

News

Tariff Hikes Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Power Crisis, Expert Tells Tinubu

Published

5 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

Attempts by the current administration to rely on increased electricity tariffs to resolve Nigeria’s chronic power supply issues are unlikely to succeed, according to energy expert Nick Agu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Agu argued for a fundamental restructuring of the power sector, prioritising infrastructure over tariff hikes.

Responding to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s optimism and recent celebration of Nigeria reaching a new peak generation of over 5,000 megawatts, Agu acknowledged the incremental increase as “a good thing, is good news.”

However, he quickly added, “But should we celebrate? The answer is probably not.”

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

News

From 158 To 351: Lagos Teen Excels In UTME After Initial Glitch

Published

6 hours ago

June 10, 2025

Editor

A 16-year-old student, Oyindamola Apampa, has achieved a remarkable aggregate score of 351 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with 65 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, and 90 in Chemistry.

Apampa, a student of Lagoon Secondary School in Lagos, described the feat as the result of determination, strategic preparation, and divine favour.

A statement on Tuesday revealed that it was her second attempt at the UTME, explaining that her initial score of 158 was later invalidated due to technical issues experienced at her exam centre.

She said, “In my first UTME attempt, I scored 158. However, the results were widely criticised and later acknowledged by the authorities as inaccurate due to technical glitches affecting several examination centres, including mine.

“Consequently, the examination body authorised a resit to address these irregularities. In the resit, I achieved a score of 351.”

She added that her parents played a crucial role in supporting her academic journey by fostering a learning-friendly environment at home.

“My parents made our home a positive place for studying. We have a full library in the family living room, in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn,” she shared.

Apampa also credited a learning centre in Lekki, Lagos, for providing her with additional academic support through UTME preparation classes and frequent mock examinations.

“The frequent mock exams at our learning centre were a great help in my preparation for UTME,” she said.

In his reaction to the learning centre head, Osayi Izedonmwen, stellar 98 per cent pass rate in the 2025 UTME, attributed the achievement to its hybrid learning approach.

“At Teesas, we are fully IT-equipped to seamlessly support both online and physical learning within a convenient and friendly environment. This has played a key role in helping our students excel,” Izedonmwen stated.

Apampa is no stranger to academic excellence. She was placed on her school’s Honours list after securing 10 As and one B in her Junior WAEC.

She has also represented her school in international competitions, such as the Conrad Challenge, where her team reached the final stage and earned a special mention.