Morning Star Media

  The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday, pledged to invest $16 million over three years to support the Oyo State Government's efforts in promoting children's rights.  According to UNICEF, the investment aims to improve healthcare, education, and protection for children in the state. The investment will be used to implement a three-year working plan in the state with a focus on achieving the rights of children.  However, in 2025 alone, UNICEF has committed to spending $5.2 million on activities supporting children's rights in the state. Kolawole Bello, the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this  while giving a remark during "A Child Rights Advocacy Dialogue with all the 33 local government Chairmen in Oyo State". The dialogue,  which was held at the Plaza D' Aruna Hotel, Oyo Town,  aimed at getting the Council Chairmen to "prioritise children, plan...

The Oyo State Government in collaboration with the United Nations' Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commissioned newly completed solar-powered boreholes and toilet facilities at Egbeda, Ona Ara, and Ibarapa East Local Government Areas of Oyo State to improve sanitation and hygiene.  Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Babalola Afobaje, emphasised the importance of the projects in advancing the health and socioeconomic well-being of rural dwellers.   Afobaje said his agency and UNICEF were committed to expanding access to clean water and improving sanitation infrastructure in rural and peri-urban communities.  He explained that the facilities were constructed under a joint initiative by the Oyo State Government and UNICEF, aimed at delivering sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation services.    Afobaje reiterated that the commissioning is just one milestone in an ong...

The Oyo State Government in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has convened an advocacy dialogue and capacity-building meeting with the Commissioners, Permanent Secretries and top officials from the Ministries of Information across the Southwest states of Nigeria. The programme was an effort to advance children-centred advocacy and effective communication for childrens's right actualisation. The event, themed “Scaling Results for Children Through Evidence-Based Social and Behavioural Change,” was held at Orchid Hotel, Ikota-Lekki, Lagos State. It brought together key stakeholders to explore strategic approaches to drive positive social change, promote children’s rights, and advance gender equity through effective communication practices and evidence-based policy alignment. Representing the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Oyo State, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, in his keynote addr...

A New York City, United States [US]-based  public health expert, Clotilde Monguya; a group, Chrisbo HB Champions’ Club, Ibadan; a nurse, Adedayo Ayeni and a public policy  advocate, Rev.Niyi Dahunsi,Thursday, warned against discrimination and stigmatisation of Sickle Cell patients. They made the call during the 2025 World Sickle Cell Day organised by Chrisbo HB Champions’ Club in collaboration with Africa Investment Consulting which was held at Akobo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The programme featured the distribution of hand bands, awareness campaigns, awards, games, blood donation, and others. Monguya said it was imperative to make life better, productive and meaningful for Sickle Cell patients. She added that they needed to be catered for. She said: ‘’ A lot of diseases carry the same, the sickle cell affects not only the patient, but affects the family, the mother, the community. And it's due to a lot of factors, this i...