— Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment Holds Sensitization Forum in Osogbo
Media professionals, social advocates, and stakeholders in the pen profession have been called upon to use their platforms to drive advocacy and accountability in the ongoing fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in Osun State and Nigeria in general.
The call was made on Friday, 17th October,2025 at the Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative forum, held at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, with the theme: “Influencing the Influential to End Gender-Based Violence in Osun State.”
The forum, which brought together journalists, social media influencers, and gender advocates, emphasized the need for a united media front against all forms of abuse, particularly those affecting women and children.
While speaking at the event, the guess Speaker, Mr. Ismael Omipidan, an Assistant Editor (Politics) at The Sun Newspapers, who was also the former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola, underscored the media’s power in shaping public perception and inspiring social change.
“From my experience in journalism, cases of child abuse are more rampant in the North, where economic hardship drives parents to expose their children to exploitation,” Omipidan noted.
He narrated how societal misconceptions, sometimes discourage acts of kindness, recalling a philanthropist who withdrew educational support for a young girl over fears of moral corruption.
Omipidan also described Osun as a “hyperactive digital state,” warning that while social media can be a powerful tool for advocacy, it can equally be destructive when misused. He urged content creators and journalists to leverage technology with education and social reality for creating awareness, that will bring positive change to the society.
Despite the ongoing interventions by the government and civil society, Omipidan lamented that “gender-based and child abuses still persist, especially in public schools,” citing a recent case of a three-year-old pupil assaulted by a teacher, an incident that only gained attention after media exposure and government intervention.
He commended journalists for their prompt reports on the Akinlalu community incident, which, according to him, “drew the attention of authorities responsible for law and justice.”
Omipidan who is also a renown journalist further urged the media practitioners to go beyond mere reportage, adding that justice must be demanded with the full intentions to breaking the barrier of Cultural impediment surrounding gender related abuses.
“Many victims of rape and domestic violence are afraid to speak out due to stigma. As journalists, we must give voice to the voiceless and use our platforms to educate, empower, and protect,” he said.
In their remarks, Mrs. Bisola Ariwodola, Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Osun State Chapter, and Mrs. Aduke Obelawo of the Inter-African Committee, Nigeria on the Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting Women and Children, reaffirmed their commitment to building strong alliances between the media, civil society, and government institutions to end GBV in Osun and beyond.
The event concluded with a renewed pledge from the participants to strengthening advocacy, amplifying survivors’ voices, and promoting a culture of zero tolerance toward gender-based violence across the state.
