Kakaki is a platform exclusively for human interest, political, economic and other human interest stories
By Fatima Mohammed Lawal
The University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Anaesthesiologists on Friday called for sustained investment in workforce training and modern equipment to ensure safe anaesthesia practice.
By Aniefon Dick
The Step-Up for Women in Journalism Initiative (SWIJ) has called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to prioritise investment in the girl child and demonstrate a clear national commitment to ending child marriage through effective laws, adequate funding and stronger accountability.
In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, the organization stressed the need for policies that protect girls rights, keep them in school and ensure that no girl is left behind.
SWIJ, which promotes excellence among women and girls by equipping them with essential leadership and professional skills to accelerate career growth, the team lead, Ann Godwin said governments must move beyond promises to set measurable targets, publish progress reports and conduct regular reviews of interventions, in partnership with civil society organisations, communities and the media.
She noted that ending child marriage requires more than public awareness, but decisive political leadership, effective legislation and sustained accountability, urging governments to harmonise and enforce laws prohibiting child marriage, close legal loopholes that enable the practice, strengthen child protection systems and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
The organisation also called for urgent action to address poverty and gender inequality, which leave many girls vulnerable to early marriage, through improved access to education, social protection and economic support for disadvantaged families.
According to SWIJ, investment in the girl child must be a policy priority backed by adequate funding and measurable outcomes. It urged governments to expand access to free, safe and inclusive education, provide scholarships for vulnerable girls, strengthen healthcare services and age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education, and establish effective mechanisms for reporting and responding to child abuse.
The initiative maintained that every girl forced out of school by poverty, discrimination or early marriage represents a setback that public policy must address.
“When we invest in a girl, we invest in a generation; when we deny her opportunities, we compromise the future of our society,” the organisation said, reaffirming that every girl deserves quality education, protection and the freedom to fulfil her potential.
SWIJ further urged policymakers to support responsible, gender-sensitive journalism and make data on child marriage, school retention and child protection publicly available to promote evidence-based policies and strengthen accountability. are held accountable.The organisation also called for urgent action to address poverty and gender inequality, which leave many girls vulnerable to early marriage, through improved access to education, social protection and economic support for disadvantaged families.According to SWIJ, investment in the girl child must be a policy priority backed by adequate funding and measurable outcomes. It urged governments to expand access to free, safe and inclusive education, provide scholarships for vulnerable girls, strengthen healthcare services and age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education, and establish effective mechanisms for reporting and responding to child abuse.The initiative maintained that every girl forced out of school by poverty, discrimination or early marriage represents a setback that public policy must address.“When we invest in a girl, we invest in a generation; when we deny her opportunities, we compromise the future of our society,” the organisation said, reaffirming that every girl deserves quality education, protection and the freedom to fulfil her potential.SWIJ further urged policymakers to support responsible, gender-sensitive journalism and make data on child marriage, school retention and child protection publicly available to promote evidence-based policies and strengthen accountability.
By Aniefon Dick
The Step-Up for Women in Journalism Initiative (SWIJ) has called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to prioritise investment in the girl child and demonstrate a clear national commitment to ending child marriage through effective laws, adequate funding and stronger accountability.
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Executive Director, Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI), Dr Stephen Akinyele has urged journalists and social media influencers to intensify advocacy against stigma and discrimination of Gender Base Violence (GBV) victims in Kwara.
Akinyele made the call on Tuesday in Ilorin at a sensitization meeting with newsmen on Stigma, Rights Abuse, GBV and Discrimination.
The programme is organised under the Advancing Integrated Health Services Delivery for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Communicable Diseases (CDs) Project.
Akinyele explained that the project is funded by Global Fund through National AIDS and STIs Control Programme.(NASCP).
According to him, it aims to strengthen integrated SRHR and communicable disease services across Offa, Asa and Moro LGAs.
“HFDI has reached 50,000 community members with SRH Social and Behaviour Change messages.
“It has also sensitised 250 community and religious leaders, facilitated 30 community-led initiatives on stigma and discrimination, and organised 50 referral coordination meetings,” he said.
Akinyele added that HFDI had facilitated and documented 2,470 completed referrals, while also strengthening community engagement, coordination, linkages, and partnerships for SRHR and CDs service delivery.
He urged the media to disseminate accurate and stigma-sensitive information and, challenge harmful misconceptions.
The executive director appealed to them to protect the privacy, confidentiality and dignity of people living with HIV, adolescents, GBV survivors and other vulnerable groups.
Also speaking, Dr. Chioma Oduenyi, the
Project Director, John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (jhpiego) said the project integrates SRHR services.
Oduenyi who was represented by Jhpiego State Team Lead, Mr. Williams Awotunde explained that the services include HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and sexually transmitted infection intervention.
“Jhpiego supports 15 PHC centres across Offa, Asa and Moro LGAs, providing training, mentoring, supportive supervision and monitoring to strengthen frontline healthcare delivery,” she said.
The project director said the integrated approach would help reduce the time and cost of accessing healthcare, while the project also promotes skilled birth attendance, which reduces maternal and newborn mortality.
“There is need to address stigma and GBV through community engagement involving traditional and religious leaders, Ward Development Committees and other community structures,” she stressed.
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Dr Muideen Onimago, has organised a free medical outreach for more than 700 residents of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara.
The outreach, held in Ilorin on Sunday, provided free medical check-up, laboratory tests, eye-care services and distribution of drugs and eye glasses.
Speaking on the outreach, the Coordinator, Dr Ola Ahmed, said the intervention was aimed at bringing quality healthcare closer to the underserved and promoting early detection of diseases at the grassroots.
Ahmed said beneficiaries were screened for various health conditions, including blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria and eye defects.
He said the gesture by Onimago was borne out of his commitment to give back to his community and support government efforts at improving access to healthcare.
“Many people in our communities cannot afford basic medical tests and eye care services.
“This outreach is to bridge that gap and ensure that people receive timely medical attention,” Ahmed said.
The medical expert added that drugs were freely distributed to beneficiaries based on doctor’s prescriptions, while eye glasses were given to those with visual impairments.
According to him, cases requiring further medical attention have been referred to appropriate health facilities for follow-up.
He commended Onimago for sponsoring the outreach and called on other well-meaning indigenes in the diaspora to emulate the gesture.
Ahmed further explained that patients who required surgical intervention had been identified and would receive surgery at appropriate health facilities.
“It is difficult for people to access healthcare because out-of-pocket expenditure is a very big challenge for people.
“Even to go to hospital for necessary tests, people will not want to go because it will incur some expenses,” he added.
Ahmed disclosed that some of the common ailments detected during the outreach included hypertension, diabetes, respiratory tract infection, cough, difficulty urinating, diarrhea and malaria among others.
In his reaction, the Shettima of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Sakariyau Onimago, commended the sponsor and organiser of the medical outreach.
He described Dr Muideen as a benevolent son of the emirate who was known for his philanthropic nature, adding that despite living abroad, he never forgot his Nigerian root.
Onimago appealed to other well meaning Nigerians to always give back to their communities.
A beneficiary, who spoke with NAN, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulsalam expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying it had saved them the cost of medical consultation and drugs.
He described the outreach as timely, given the current economic challenges, while praying for more of such interventions in the emirate.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Hajaratu Yakubu from Eruda community said she received free eye care services and drugs.
She expressed gratitude and prayed for the organiser for his humanitarian service to the indigents in the community.
By Aniefon Dick
PORT HARCOURT — Stakeholders have called for stronger legislative oversight and public participation in Nigeria’s investment treaty processes to protect the government’s regulatory powers and support the country’s energy transition.
They made the call at a two-day multi-stakeholder roundtable on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), energy transition and investment governance in Nigeria, which ended on Friday in Port Harcourt.
The dialogue brought together policymakers, regulators, civil society organisations, host community representatives and journalists to examine Nigeria’s investment treaty framework, particularly its implications for the energy sector.
Participants said Nigeria’s ongoing investment treaty reforms presented an opportunity to strengthen transparency and ensure that investment agreements receive adequate legislative and public scrutiny.
They noted that investment treaties could have long-term implications for environmental regulation, energy transition, public finances and the government’s ability to pursue development priorities.
Speaking at the opening of the dialogue, Mr Tijah Bolton-Akpan, Executive Director, Policy Alert, said Nigeria’s energy transition depended partly on whether its investment treaty obligations enabled or constrained government regulation in the public interest.
“Nigeria’s energy transition depends not only on policy commitments and technology deployment, but also on whether its investment treaty obligations enable or constrain the government’s ability to regulate in the public interest,” he said.
Bolton-Akpan said Nigeria’s reliance on fossil fuel revenues alongside its energy transition commitments made it necessary to examine ISDS beyond its legal dimensions.
He said the issue also had significant implications for energy governance, public finances and climate justice.
Participants called for the National Assembly to play a more meaningful role in the consideration and ratification of investment treaties and agreements.
They argued that legislative scrutiny should be incorporated into the ongoing investment treaty reform process rather than treated as a separate issue.
The stakeholders also raised concerns about developments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, including asset divestments, new offshore investments and the expansion of gas infrastructure under the Decade of Gas Initiative 2021–2030.
They called for closer assessment of the investment and ISDS implications of such developments, particularly where environmental liabilities could remain after companies exit oil and gas assets.
The roundtable recommended that the Federal Government strengthen legislative and public participation in investment treaty-making and reform.
It also called for continued review and, where appropriate, renegotiation or replacement of older-generation Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs).
Participants further recommended that future agreements clearly protect the government’s right to regulate in the public interest and that the potential ISDS implications of major energy and investment policies be assessed.
They specifically urged greater scrutiny of expanded gas infrastructure and stronger accountability for environmental liabilities associated with oil and gas divestments.
The stakeholders also called on the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to strengthen mechanisms ensuring that companies exiting oil and gas assets remain accountable for legacy environmental liabilities.
The second day of the programme focused on capacity building for civil society organisations and the media.
Participants were equipped with tools to understand investment treaties and ISDS, investigate their implications, particularly in the fossil fuel industry, and monitor Nigeria’s investment governance reform process.
The event was organised by Policy Alert in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), with support from the Center for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO).
Service
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Ilorin, Aug. 13, 2026 (NAN)The Kwara Government has commended the Royal Heritage Health Foundation (RHHF) for its outstanding service to humanity and contributions to healthcare delivery in the state and beyond.
The Kwara Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, gave the commendation in Ilorin while delivering his address at the 20th Years Anniversary of RHHF in Ilorin.
The theme of the programme is entitled: “Empowering Youth , Igniting Enterprise, Seeds Planted, Futures Harvested”.
The deputy governor who was represented by the Kwara Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru said the government recognizes and appreciates the humanitarian interventions of civil societies in the State, particularly in reaching vulnerable and underserved populations with healthcare services.
Alabi observed that RHHF has consistently demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of people through its various programmes, including medical outreaches, health advocacy, and partnership with other development organizations in delivering life-saving interventions.
According to him, the activities of the Foundation align with the state’s health agenda of ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all, especially women and children.
The deputy governor assured that it will continue to create an enabling environment for NGOs, civil society and development partners like RHHF to thrive and support the state’s drive for inclusive development.
In her address, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nigeria, Ms. Muriel Mafico, said for the past two decades, RHHF has demonstrated commitment, integrity and grounded in solid values.
Mafico noted that UNFPA has supported activities of the Foundation, especially their bold vision in ending violence and promoting right to healthcare, education, dignity and protection.
“That vision cannot be achieved by a single organisation. Partnership is what glues everything together.
“What started as a small idea, has become a success. Reducing maternal mortality, addressing violence, everyone should live in dignity. These are noble aspirations that require partnership,” she said.
The UNFPA boss appealed for the support of traditional leaders to support organisations and the government in bringing development activities to the communities.
“We cannot have brilliant ideas, it takes the communities to carve access to that opportunity,” she said.
Mafico encouraged the RHHF to brace-up to do more for the country and by extension other parts of the world.
Earlier in her welcoming address, the Board Chairperson of RHHF, Hajia Raliat Olatunji explained that the programme is a celebration of purpose, impact, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to humanity.
According to her, the Foundation has partnered with several reputable national and international development partners on humanitarian activities.
Olatunji said part of activities for the anniversary includes Health walk, medical outreaches and opening of Adolescent and Youth Friendly Space at Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH).
She explained that the initiative provides dedicated space where young people can access health, counseling services and support, while describing it as a safe and welcoming environment.
In his Goodwill message, the Emir of Songa, Dr Haliru Yahaya commended the Foundation for impacting the country through their various interventions for the past 20 years.
He pledged that traditional leaders will continue to give necessary support to the Foundation in their various humanitarian activities in the State. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
FATY/
The Tech Girls Club, a Non- Governmental Organisation, has commenced a digital training for 51 secondary school students in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Programme Manager, Te Club, Wonderful Osalor, said the training, tagged “AI/Data Science for Her,” was meant to close the digital divide for females and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
She said the target audience for this bootcamp is secondary school students in JSS 3, SS 1, and SS 2, holding from Monday to Friday.
“The goal is to empower them with skills, tools, and experiences in data science, artificial intelligence, and digital literacy.
“We also plan to encourage and inspire them to pursue careers in technology or, better still, to solve problems depending on their career using technology.
“We are looking at how to teach them to not just be people that complain about the problems in the society, but how can they be equipped with the skills necessary to solve these problems,” she said.
Osalor said the students would be taught Microsoft Excel, Python programming, AI, machine learning, and also starting off with digital literacy skills.
“This is to ensure that at the end of this bootcamp, we hope that the students would gain interest in data science, in machine learning, in artificial intelligence for the purpose of solving problems.
“We encourage them that regardless of their careers, whether they are in science, they’re in arts, they are in commercial or accounting class, we are encouraging them to use technology as a tool for problem-solving,” she said.
The project manager said the programme would be held in the six geopolitical zones, starting from the North Central Zone, to train 300 girls in total.
“We are starting with Ilorin, then to Port Harcourt, Nsukka, to Yola, Zaria and Ibadan.
“So, we are looking at impacting them, and for them to go back to their schools, the society, and impact other girls to basically learn about STEM and also solve problems using STEM,” she said.
The Lead Facilitator for the “AI Data Science for Her programme”, Dr Wilson Sakpere said the programme idea was conceived due to the fact that female children are limited by the education they have access to.
Sakpere said the programme as sponsored by Neural Information Processing Systems, involved students from both private and public schools in Kwara.
He said the goal was to ensure the girls are open to STEM, AI, and data science from secondary school level, so that as they grow from there, they become confident and can compete favourably with their counterparts.
The Desk Officer, Girls and Gender, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Felicia Bamidele said the programme couldn’t have come at a better time due to the advancement of digitalisation in the present world.
“It is a privilege for our girls to know more about AI, which will boost their education performance Club bridges digital gap by training 51 Kwara girls on AI/Data science
A Non- Governmental Organisation, the Tech Girls Club has started a digital training tagged “AI/Data Science for Her” for 51 secondary school students in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The Programme Manager, Tech Girls Club, Wonderful Osalor, said the programme was meant to close the digital divide for females and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
She said the target audience for this bootcamp is secondary school students in JSS 3, SS 1, and SS 2, holding from Monday to Friday.
“The goal is to empower them with skills, tools, and experiences in data science, artificial intelligence, and digital literacy.
“We also plan to encourage and inspire them to pursue careers in technology or, better still, to solve problems depending on their career using technology.
“We are looking at how to teach them to not just be people that complain about the problems in the society, but how can they be equipped with the skills necessary to solve these problems,” she said
Osalor said the students would be taught Microsoft Excel, Python programming, AI, machine learning, and also starting off with digital literacy skills.
“This is to ensure that at the end of this bootcamp, we hope that the students would gain interest in data science, in machine learning, in artificial intelligence for the purpose of solving problems.
“We encourage them that regardless of their careers, whether they are in science, they’re in arts, they are in commercial or accounting class, we are encouraging them to use technology as a tool for problem-solving,” she said.
The project manager said the programme would be held in the six geopolitical zones, starting from the North Central Zone, to train 300 girls in total.
“We are starting with Ilorin, then to Port Harcourt, Nsukka, to Yola, Zaria and Ibadan.
“So, we are looking at impacting them, and for them to go back to their schools, the society, and impact other girls to basically learn about STEM and also solve problems using STEM,” she said.
The Lead Facilitator for the “AI Data Science for Her programme”, Dr Wilson Sakpere said the programme idea was conceived due to the fact that female children are limited by the education they have access to.
Sakpere said the programme as sponsored by Neural Information Processing Systems, involved students from both private and public schools in Kwara.
He said the goal was to ensure the girls are open to STEM, AI, and data science from secondary school level, so that as they grow from there, they become confident and can compete favourably with their counterparts.
The Desk Officer, Girls and Gender, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Felicia Bamidele said the programme couldn’t have come at a better time due to the advancement of digitalisation in the present world.
“It is a privilege for our girls to know more about AI, which will boost their education performance in their various schools,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Charity Ogbeba from Chapel Secondary School, Gaa Akanbi said she is hoping to develop on the knowledge she has on AI and also learn about software development.
Another beneficiary, Zainab Modibbo, from Government Day Secondary School, Tanke said she expected to learn more about AI and also data science and using them in a beneficial way.
One of the teachers from Government Day Secondary School, Agbabiaka, Mrs Grace Adebayo said the programme would be an eye opener for the students and also enable them to compete favourably with their counterparts. their various schools,” she said.
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
The North Central Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has pledged a strengthened partnership with the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to combat insecurity in the zone.
The Zonal Director, Dr Priscilla Gondoaluor made this known on Thursday in Ilorin, while on a working visit to the NSCDC headquarters in Ilorin.
She said security is the responsibility of all and not for the security agencies alone, and while the security agencies handles the force, the NOA brings in sensitisation of the populace.
“Security is top on the list of our priorities as a nation and the NSCDC plays a vital role in achieving this .
“Security is the responsibility all; the person protected also have to play his/her role, and this is where the NOA comes in.
“People needs to be regularly sensitised to join actions with the security agencies to reduce insecurity to the barest minimum.
“This is because everyone needs to be keyed in and be part of the government’s efforts on ensuring the safety of everyone,” she said.
Mrs Gondoaluor commended the corps for performing beyond expectations as against the initial complaints of duplication of duties with other security agencies.
She expressed optimism towards more fruitful partnership and collaboration between the agency and the corps.
In his response NSCDC Kwara Commandant, Commandant Abbas Mohammed said the need for reorientation of citizens cannot be overemphasized, as the citizens needed to be kept abreast of government policies.
He commended NOA for bridging the communication gap between the government and the citizens, in terms of government policies and programmes.
“I think if the citizens know what the government is doing, it will go a long way to reduce their agitations.
“Most times most of the government policies are not being propagated and there is a disconnect between the government and the masses.
“But, with NOA, this gap is being bridged, a lot of information is being disseminated on government policies, and these have gone a long way to reduce these agitations,” he said.
The NSCDC commandant however urged the agency to intensify its sensitisation as the electioneering period is near and unrest tends to increase.
“As you know that we are in an electioneering period, and the rate of civil unrest or criminalities will be on the high side.
“So, we want to implore you to do more and assure you that we will continue to partner with you in any way we can.
“We have a wide reach just like you, we are everywhere, both local government and wards. I assure you, we will give you a 100% partnership anytime you call us,” he said.
The NOA state Director, Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim also commended the corps for its efforts in combating insecurity and also pledge the state office’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with the corps
