According to the news gathered from Punch, the Kwara State Government has established a 21-member committee to oversee the implementation of laws aimed at addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and protecting females within the state.

Speaking at the 2024 Girl Child Day celebration in Ilorin on Friday, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Opeyemi Afolashade, reaffirmed the government's commitment to restoring the dignity of girls in Kwara.

The commissioner said that the existence of the committee has sent serious warning signals to the people in the society, saying that “the committee guarantees the girl child rights protection and prosecutes the violators, no matter how he is highly placed in the society.”

She said that the campaign against the marginalisation of girls/children must continue until the last person understands the rights of girl children and is ready to live by them, adding that the world will be a better place to live the day, and the girl child gets equal footing in all spheres.

The state governor, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, at the event said that the government has evolved some measures which included the promulgation of laws and setting aside health institutions for women in the state.

AbdulRazaq said, “Our government has created the enabling environment for our girls in the state to attain the vision of becoming good mothers, technocrats, public servants, or business tycoons who would use their knowledge to put this great country on the pedestal of growth.

“The Child Rights Law, Violence Against Persons and Prohibition (VAPP), and Gender Composition Law, among others, are all in force to ensure that our children have compulsory education and as well get full protection against all forms of violence, molestation, or discrimination. We have prosecuted several perpetrators of sexual assaults.

Also, the two referral centers at both General and Sobi’s Specialist hospitals have treated several SGBV victims and also provided psycho-social support for the victims.”

The governor implored the general public to have attitudinal change by investing in the education for the girl child adding that “empowering the girl child is akin to empowerment of the whole world. Protect your girls from violence, exploitation, and abuse, and encourage them to participate in leadership training.”

He also urged parents to stop all discrimination against the girl child, adding that they have equal potential as the boy child, saying that some of them have risen to attain the peak of their careers in different disciplines.

In her address at the celebration, Kwara’s first lady, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, said that the development of the girl child was her priority.