🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Oyo State trains health workers to combat female genital mutilation
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health, organized a one-day capacity-building training to strengthen advocacy against Female Genital Mutilation FGM. The training, held in Oyo Town, brought together Medical Officers of Health, Health Educators, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers from all 33 local government areas of the state. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, stated that the training is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate harmful traditional practices and promote the health and rights of women and girls. Dr. Muideen Olatunji, Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, represented by Dr. Abiodun Akeem Akande, reaffirmed the board's commitment to ending FGM, describing it as a harmful and outdated practice. He emphasized the vital role of primary healthcare workers in driving behavioral change at the grassroots level. The training aimed to equip health workers with knowledge and tools to identify, prevent, and respond to FGM cases and other forms of Gender-Based Violence. Mrs. Bilikis Olawoyin, Programme Officer, delivered a presentation on FGM, highlighting its definition, types, prevalence, causes, consequences, and the socio-cultural factors sustaining it. Participants were trained on referral pathways for survivors, ensuring timely medical care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance. Health educator
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Brazilian forward Luiz Henrique stated that the national team must channel the pressure of the upcoming World Cup into motivation. Brazil, a five-time World Cup winner, last lifted the trophy in 2002. Henrique, 25, who plays for Russia’s Zenit, is considered a key attacking option for head coach Carlo Ancelotti, especially as the team faces multiple injuries to players like Eder Militao, Estevao, and Rodrygo. Henrique expressed his readiness to play and give his best if selected by Ancelotti, who is expected to name his final squad on May 18. He praised Ancelotti, appointed in May last year, for helping players evolve and instilling calm. Henrique also mentioned his desire to play alongside Neymar, who hopes to be called up despite a serious knee injury that has kept him from playing for Brazil since 2023.
Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, stated that effective security in Nigeria relies on strong collaboration between the police and communities. Speaking at the 42nd anniversary of the Police Community Relations Committee PCRC in Abuja, Disu, represented by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, described the PCRC as a crucial pillar of community-oriented policing. He emphasized that security is a shared responsibility, thriving when citizens and law enforcement work together. Disu highlighted the PCRC's role in building trust, providing support during crises, and advocating for safer neighborhoods over the years. He noted that the future of policing and national security depends on deeper collaboration, smarter engagement, and stronger community participation, affirming the Nigeria Police Force's commitment to a proactive, intelligence-driven, technology-enabled, and community-rooted policing model. Disu called for renewed commitment to community engagement and public trust to build peaceful communities, urging the PCRC to embrace new ideas, technologies, and partnerships. The National Chairman of the PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, commended the Nigeria Police Force's support and mentioned the committee's expansion beyond Nigeria to countries like the UK, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Qatar, the US, and Saudi Arabia. Olaniyan also noted the PCRC's support for police officers and their families, with over 6,000 officers benefiting from welfare packages
The National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office NASSCO announced that more than 12.3 million Nigerians have been linked to the National Social Register NSR using their National Identification Numbers NINs. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and credibility in social intervention programs. Dr. Funmi Olotu, National Coordinator of NASSCO, shared this during a stakeholder engagement in Abuja, emphasizing that integrating NINs into the NSR improves data integrity, eliminates duplication, and ensures interventions reach the intended beneficiaries. This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to build a more accountable social protection system. The NSR currently covers over 20 million households and more than 77 million individuals across Nigeria. Olotu noted significant progress, with over 9.7 million household records updated and 11.5 million NINs successfully validated across 37 states and 774 Local Government Areas. She stressed the critical role of local governments in the successful implementation of these programs due to their proximity to communities. Olubunmi Olusanya, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, highlighted the NSR as a key pillar in Nigeria’s poverty reduction efforts. He warned that without full NIN integration, many vulnerable Nigerians risk exclusion from government interventions and underscored the importance of local government authorities in ensuring the program's credibility an
The House of Representatives has formed an ad-hoc committee to investigate outstanding debts owed to the Federal Government by state actors, private entities, and Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Oluwole Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, will chair the committee. The committee's mandate includes identifying debtors, assessing current recovery efforts, and recommending strategies for fund recovery. This initiative follows a motion highlighting Nigeria's increasing debt burden, which reached N153.29tn by September 30, 2025, with debt servicing consuming 47.85% of government revenue in the first nine months of 2025. Lawmakers expressed concern that insufficient attention has been given to recovering funds owed to the government, exacerbating fiscal challenges. The investigation aims to address the revenue crisis and the unlawful retention of public funds, which negatively impacts the economy amid rising debt obligations and infrastructure deficits. The committee is expected to submit its report within four weeks.