Kwara Govt Asks Residents To Create Safe Spaces For Women, Children

Kwara State government has urged the people of the state to create safe spaces for women and children to enable them to thrive in all aspects of life.

The commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Afolashade Opeyemi, made the call during a peace walk organised by her ministry, the Office of the First Lady and other stakeholders in commemoration of the 2025 “16 Days of Activism”.

The commissioner who spoke through the director, Personnel, Finance and Supply, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Ubandawaki, noted that the 2025 “16 Days of Activism”, themed “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” was dedicated to increasing awareness on the dangers of violence perpetrated against women and children through digital devices and social media.

She stressed that digital devices were increasingly being used to harass, stalk, abuse individuals and in extreme cases, to cause fatal harm through acts such as revenge porn, online threats, online sexual harassment, leaked nude images, trolling, catfishing, misogynistic networks and impersonation, among others.

She added that the effects of these forms of digital violence were often long-lasting and deeply traumatic for the survivors.

Opeyemi commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the First Lady, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, for their passion towards ensuring safe spaces for girls and women in the state.

She urged residents of the state to be vigilant about their safety, reiterating that exposure to such harmful practices often had damaging and long-lasting effects.

In his remarks, the focal person, Coalition to End the Girl Child Marriage in Nigeria, Mr Olufemi Oyedeji, disclosed that there were existing laws in the state against all abuses, including digital abuse.

He warned that anyone caught violating the laws would face the consequences.