Edo Women Affairs Ministry Records Major Milestones Under Okpebholo — Abdallah

Edo Women Affairs Ministry Records Major Milestones Under Okpebholo — Abdallah

The Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, has highlighted a series of interventions and institutional reforms undertaken by the Ministry since October 2025, saying the initiatives are strengthening the protection, empowerment and welfare of women, children and vulnerable persons across the state.

Abdallah disclosed this during a press briefing on the activities of the Ministry from October 2025 to August 2026, noting that the achievements were recorded under the broader framework of the SHINE Agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

According to the Commissioner, the Ministry’s interventions have focused on women’s economic empowerment, child protection, response to sexual and gender-based violence, mental-health rehabilitation, social protection, policy reforms and strategic partnerships.

She listed the successful hosting of the 25th National Council on Women Affairs and Child Development in Benin City as one of the major milestones recorded during the period. The event brought together stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on issues affecting women, children and vulnerable groups.

On the fight against gender-based violence, Abdallah said the Ministry had strengthened survivor-centred services through the commissioning and operation of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Uromi, while efforts were ongoing towards establishing another centre in Auchi.

She also disclosed that Edo State had taken steps to address emerging forms of digital violence through the development and validation of a Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Policy Framework.

In the area of women’s economic empowerment, the Commissioner said 171 women from the three senatorial districts received business and digital-marketing training, followed by grants of ₦100,000 each to support their businesses. The Ministry also organised a three-day Women’s Mini Trade Fair to provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to showcase their products, expand their markets and build business networks.

Abdallah further highlighted reforms in child protection, including the introduction of digital child-welfare case management through the Children First Software and the review and validation of the Edo State Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy to address emerging threats such as online exploitation, social media risks, artificial intelligence and institutional abuse.

She said the Ministry had also intensified monitoring of children’s homes, resulting in the closure of an allegedly illegal children’s home in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area, over suspected irregular adoption practices, with the operator handed over to law-enforcement authorities.

The Commissioner noted that the Ministry’s social-protection mandate had also translated into direct interventions for vulnerable persons, including the rescue, treatment and reunification of Mr. Peter Guobadia, a Nigerian deportee found wandering in Benin City, as well as the rehabilitation of other vulnerable persons and successful family reunifications.

She said the Ministry had commenced a structured mental-health rescue and rehabilitation programme that goes beyond street evacuation to include medical and psychiatric assessment, treatment, shelter, psychosocial support, family tracing and reintegration.

The Ministry, she added, had also supported vocational training and reintegration, with 80 beneficiaries completing skills-acquisition programmes and receiving certificates and start-up support to facilitate their return to productive livelihoods.

Abdallah attributed the progress recorded by the Ministry to the support and policy direction of Governor Monday Okpebholo, while also acknowledging the collaboration of the Office of the First Lady, development partners, civil-society organisations, traditional and religious institutions, law-enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.

She assured that the Ministry would continue to consolidate the gains made, with a renewed commitment to protecting children, empowering women, supporting vulnerable persons, strengthening families and promoting dignity and inclusion across Edo State.