News
LASG decries abuse of children at homes
The Lagos State Government on Saturday decried the increasing rate of abuse of children, even in homes.
Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), expressed the displeasure during the Parents Association Conference on Safeguarding and Child Protection, held at Awori Ajeromi Grammar School, Agboju.
Vivour-Adeniyi, who was represented by the Head, Psychology Department, DSVA, Mrs Olive Oluwagbemileke, said that it was unfortunate that some children are sexually abused in their homes.
She said that the Lagos State Government frowns at such, and would leave no stone unturned to prosecute perpetrators.
According to her, the conference is designed to enlighten parents on the process of reporting cases of violence and abuses on children.
She said that the conference is to show parents how to prevent violence in the form of domestic and sexual acts, and the process that could be adopted to raise their children to become more responsible in the society.
Adeniyi said that punishment had not been an effective tool to correcting wrong behaviours of children, rather than discipline, stressing the need to explore other milder ways of reprimanding children for wrong doings.
”DSVA has been mandated to sensitise parents and enlighten the general public on the alarming increase in child abuse, such as physical, sexual violence, negligence, which have gone on the increase over the years.
”So in order to curb the alarming increase, we have been mandated to sensitise the general public on what child abuse is, the signs, the symptoms, because if we don’t know that our children are being abused, imagine the population of children who are suffering under this menace.
”So parents are able to watch out for these symptoms and also know the laws and policies that have been put in place by the government to protect children.
“We are here to enlighten people on how to protect our children and safeguard the rights of our children.
”In addition, we will also be enlightening parents about effective parenting skills from the psychological perspective.
”We also further enlightened parents on the differences between punishment and discipline, because most parents punish children, and this leads to a lot of abuse in societies, and also in the long run, most of these children come down with mental health as adults in the future,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Kamardeen Akodu, Director, Monitoring and Investigation, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), said that the government, through the various agencies and ministries, had done a lot to safeguard children.
Akodu said that this was through the enactment of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy; the Child Rights Act; the establishment of relevant agencies such as DSVA; OEQA; MYSD, and others to fight the dangerous societal malaise.
He said that due to the prompt responses to complaints/petitions, sensitisation, and convictions obtained thereafter, there was an increased awareness on safeguarding issues and more citizens had become encouraged to report cases of abuse.
According to him, as a result, there is an increase in reported cases of abuse.
”It is important to note that, while the focus had been on perpetrators in schools, vis-a-vis teachers and school owners, more attention should be paid to homes.
”This is because investigation has revealed that abuses, at times, are due to negligence on the part of parents. In some cases, the abusers are relations and family friends.
”This is why this meeting is very important in curtailing the incidents of abuse in society. As parents, your roles contribute either positively or negatively in the fight to rid the society of abuses.
He added that:
”You are responsible for the safety of the children in your care. Our children are our future, please take good care of them to prepare a better tomorrow for ourselves,”
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
-
Health & Wellness11 months agoPresident Tinubu Directs Cut in Dialysis Cost from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000
-
News12 months agoPICTURE: In Lagos Couple Sentenced to 22½ Years for Cannabis Trafficking
-
Trending News11 months agoNELFUND Disburses ₦86bn To 449,000 Beneficiaries
-
Business4 months agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Gantry Price To ₦1,200 Per Litre
-
International News4 months agoIndian Police Arrest Nigerian Over ₦290m Drug Haul
-
Business2 years agoHeritage Bank Customers’ Path to Securing ₦5m Insured Funds: A Step-By-Step Guide by NDIC”
-
Business4 months agoAfter Plea Bargain, Court Discharges Stella Oduah of ₦2.5bn Fraud
-
Business2 years ago
Dangote; We Did Not Fix ₦600/Litre Petrol Price