Hassan El-Yakub, the Bauchi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, has described Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as one of the most pressing human rights concerns in the state.

El-Yakub made the remark in Bauchi on Friday, during a two-day training on enhancing access to justice and strengthening investigative and prosecutorial skills in GBV cases.

Represented by Yusuf Adamu, the State Solicitor and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, El-Yakub noted that although Bauchi State has enacted laws and policies to tackle the menace, more needs to be done through collaboration among stakeholders.

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The training brought together investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers, and civil society actors.

The training focused on improving knowledge of GBV laws and case law, while equipping investigators with skills in evidence collection, forensic documentation, and maintaining the chain of custody.

Participants also received training on strengthening prosecutorial capacity in framing charges, presenting medical evidence, and securing convictions, with an emphasis on survivor-centered justice that balances restorative and punitive measures.

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Speaking before the training, Ms Deborah Tabara, Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), commended the Ministry of Justice for engaging critical stakeholders.

Tabara, also the state’s Programme Officer, UNFPA, acknowledged that managing GBV cases remained a challenge, adding that training provides a strategy to bridge existing gaps.

Similarly, Maimuna Ibrahim, the Ministry’s Gender Desk Officer, disclosed that most cases recorded by the ministry involved sexual violence and the torture of minors.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, the State Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD).

Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has tasked gospel musicians on the production of distinct worship songs that edify and uplift the spirit.

The deputy governor stated this on Thursday when he played host to the Fellowship of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria (FOGMMON).

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor maintained that what makes gospel music different from circular music is hinged on its distinct message and ability to lead listeners to repentance and to God.

“I want to see more of our gospel artistes that will speak in line with the principles and values of Christianity as was obtainable when we were growing up.

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“Those songs were a kind of Rhema from God. We shouldn’t be designing our music almost like circular music. We should go back to the drawing table and look at the kind of songs we produce.

“We should go back to who we are as Christians and produce songs that edify God based on our kind of worship songs,” he stated.

He assured the gospel artists of the state government collaboration to make their international conference scheduled for October significant.

Idahosa commended members of its Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for finding the state fit to host such an event.

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He informed the Christian body, “We made a promise during the campaign period to use governance to promote Christianity.

“The Edo State Government plans to have a music talent hunt. One of the best ways for God to be moved, is through worship.”

Earlier, the leader of the FOGMMON, Louis Imafidon, said membership of the association spread across the country and in diaspora.

The Christian body through its leaders, craved the collaboration and physical presence of government at the scheduled event to make the occasion seamless and credible.

Mr Mohammed Baba, Asst. Director, Finance and Account, Federal Ministry of Finance, says the Federal Government, through the ministry has trained students on entrepreneurship development in not less than 100 higher institutions in the country.

He stated this on the sideline of training lectures for the students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi on Friday, adding that the training was carried out under the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) of the ministry.

Baba, who noted that the training was a project of President Bola Tinubu, said that the present administration saw the need to catch the ‘youth young’ so as to be self-sustained without relying on government employment.

“We have covered more than 100 tertiary institutions and with this initiative, the generation to come will be better.

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“They have to have entrepreneurship skills so as to be able to fall back and grow as entrepreneurs and become employers of labour in the event of not getting a white collar job.

“The plan A is to give theoretical knowledge which is what we are doing now and the plan B is to give the practical aspect where the funding will come in the form of a grant to the entrepreneurship department which will be shared to the most qualified entrepreneurs in schools,” he said.

He advised the students to make the best use of the grant when it finally arrived as they are being looked upon to become successful entrepreneurs and employers of labour to better the country’s economy.

Baba also urged them to approach the Bank of Industry for loans to make their entrepreneurship knowledge a reality even before the coming of the federal government’s grant.

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In her lecture, Mrs Deborah Tatimi, a facilitator, said that YOUWIN is to inspire, equip and make the students to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable career option by providing them with the mindset, skills and tools needed to build successful businesses.

This, she said, would reduce over dependence on government for jobs and help them in fostering a culture of self-reliance, innovation and employment.

Earlier, Alh. Kasim Salihu, the Registrar of the polytechnic, commended the federal government for selecting the school for the training and called on the students to listen attentively, saying that entrepreneurship is key to national development.

Salihu, who assured that the students of the school were well groomed on entrepreneurship development theoretically, called on the federal government to come up with grants to help them actualise and practicalise their skills.