Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative Evolves Strategies At Ending Gender-Based Violence in Osun

News Update

In a bid to curb Gender-Based Violence, GBV in Osun State, Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative has engaged influencers and stakeholders on strategies to end the menace.

The meeting with youths groups, journalists, social media influencers, and advocates on Friday, at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, were influenced on ways to address the growing concerns of violence against women and girls, as well as that of gender-based violence (GBV) in Osun state.

The event, themed “Influencing the Influential to End Gender-Based Violence in Osun State,” focused on empowering media practitioners to adopt zero tolerance toward all forms of abuse while promoting awareness and accountability.

Speaking during the event session, Mr. Ismael Omipidan, Assistant Editor, Politics of The Sun Newspapers and former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Osun Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, emphasized the vital role of journalists in shaping public perception and driving advocacy against GBV.

“From my experience in journalism, cases of child abuse are more prevalent in northern Nigeria, where economic hardship often pushes parents to expose their children to exploitation,” Omipidan stated.

He narrated a story about a philanthropist who volunteered to sponsor a young girl’s education but later withdrew support due to fears of moral corruption, highlighting how social perceptions often hinder empowerment efforts.

Omipidan also raised concerns about cyberbullying, describing Osun as a “hyperactive digital state” where social media can be used either as a tool for growth or destruction. He urged participants to channel technology toward education, advocacy, and responsible communication.

“Despite government and civil society’s interventions, gender-based and child abuses still persist, particularly in public schools,” he said, recalling an incident in which a three-year-old pupil was beaten by a teacher, a case that drew intervention from a state governor before it was resolved.

He appreciated journalists for their timely reports on incidents in Akinlalu community, which, according to him, “drew the attention of authorities responsible for law and justice,” demonstrating the impact of responsible media practice.

Omipidan further urged journalists to go beyond reportage by holding perpetrators accountable and breaking the culture of silence that enables abuse.

“Many victims of rape or domestic violence rarely speak out due to fear of stigmatization. As journalists, we must give voice to the voiceless and use our platforms to educate, empower, and protect,” he added.

Also speaking, Mrs Bisola Ariwodola, Osun State Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and Mrs Aduke Obelawo of the Inter-African Committee, Nigeria on the Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting Women and Children, Osun State Chapter among other speakers and participants at the event reaffirmed their commitment to building a united front between the media, civil society, and government institutions to end gender-based violence in Osun State and beyond.