News

Govts, Organisations Urged To Include Persons With Albinism In Intervention Programmes

Published

3 years ago

July 12, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Government at all levels, private organisations and individuals have been urged to include persons with albinism especially women and girls in their programmes – political office; Gender Based Violence (GVB) Intervention Programmes, etc.

Joy Odigie, Executive Director, Initiative for Advancement of the Albinism Cause (INAAC), who made the appeal during a day Sensitisation Workshop for Civil Society Organisations and media practitioners in Benin, said the inclusion will go a long way in alleviating the plights of persons with albinism who, according to her, experience GBV due to lack of awareness about their skin colour.

INFO DAILY reports that the sensitisation workshop was to create awareness about albinism and the need to include persons with albinism especially women and girls with albinism as well as mothers of children with albinism in Gender Based Violence Intervention Programmes.

According to Odigie, due to lack of awareness on how albinism comes about cum myth about albinism, persons with this special skin face a lot of challenges in the society including decriminalisation, sexual violence targeted at women with albinism, etc, insisting that persons with albinism are just like every other creature.

“Isolation and expulsion from the community is also commonplace due to the belief that the child with albinism is a curse on the community.

“Self-removal from the community by mothers of children with albinism also takes place in some cases to avoid hostility and exclusion from community members.

“Women with albinism are often targets of sexual violence. This is frequently due to fetishes, myths and misbeliefs that result in rape and sexual assaults.

“In some part of Nigeria, it is also due to the prevalent myths that sexual intercourse with women with albinism can cure HIV and can confer good luck. These myths continuously expose these women to violence and increase their vulnerability to unwanted pregnancies and to contracting various sexually transmitted infections,” the Executive Director lamented.

Odigie therefore tasked the media to promote interventions as well as communicate understanding of albinism with a view to correcting the misconceptions about persons with albinism and the challenges they face in the society.

She added: “This is important in reducing the violence. The key message should be that people with albinism are humans who have rights, so the whole community should treat them well.

“The media, owe the duty to demystify the misconceptions and myths that have been propagated and sustained in the mass media against persons with albinism. While we are quick to announce that “Black Lives Matter,” we mustn’t hesitate to also push that “The Lives of Persons with Albinism Matter.”

In her presentation, Agatha Osieke, Executive Director, The Women, Youths and Children Advancement Programme, said the discrimination against persons with albinism and non-inclusion of them in government programmes is violation of their fundamental human rights, insisting that they are no less human

The legal practitioner said: “Chapter four of the Nigeria Constitution on fundamental human rights never discriminated against anyone. Not even based on colour, heath status or biological makeup. Therefore, any form of discrimination against persons with albinism is unconstitutional, and anyone who discriminate against them has violated the provisions of all fundamental human rights documents including the Edo State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2021.”

She added: “It should be noted that persons with albinism are not ghost but human.

“Women and girls with albinism and mothers of children with albinism are not different from any other women or girls in the society. (Sic)

“Persons with albinism are no less human. They have equal rights of association. They can also lead. They should be allowed to exhibit their God given talent.”

News

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

21 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
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‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
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‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
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‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
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‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
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‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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