News

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

Published

4 years ago

August 25, 2022

Editor

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

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.