Ogun Govt. Empowers 50 Female Sex Workers In 8 Months- Official

The Ogun Government says it has empowered over 50 female sex workers across the state between January and August in order to take them off the street.

Mrs Biola Kufile- Okonji, Commissioner for Women Affairs, disclosed this in Abeokuta on Wednesday while playing host to the state House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.

The committee led by the Chairman, Mrs Juliana Akintayo, was on oversight visit to the ministry in Abeokuta.

The commissioner, represented by Mr Olurotimi Sotubo, Director, Social Welfare Services, said that they were trained in soap making, pastries and jelly production in conjunction with the United Nation Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).

Kufile- Okonji explained that the sex workers were rehabilitated, trained and equipped with skills to make a living.

She explained that 250 teenage girls were also trained in sexual reproductive health and livelihood support in collaboration with Action Health Incorporated.

The commissioner added that over 1, 112 family cases were handled by the ministry throughout the state, saying that 876 family cases were successfully concluded while 160 estranged couples were reconciled.

“Apart from these, we have raided and evacuated over 575 vagrant lunatics, destitute and beggars.

“85 per cent of destitute in the state are not from the state, they came in from neighbouring state through Ado Odo Ota local government and Ifo local government,” she said.

In her response, Akintayo advised the ministry to make its presence felt in all the nook and crannies of the state especially areas nearness to Lagos.

The lawmaker urged the ministry to ensure more synergy with the House of assembly, saying that the synergy would bring more development to the state.

“The ministry will continue to build a just society devoid of discrimination against women and ensure continuous empowerment and protection of the rights of children,” he said.