BREAKING: Media Stakeholders, Advocates Unite to Combat Gender-Based Violence in Osun State

 Oriontimes News Desk|Osogbo, Osun State — October 17, 2025

Journalists, media practitioners, and social media influencers converged at the NUJ Hall, Osogbo, for the Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative, a strategic program themed “Influencing the Influential to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV)”.

The event, organized to strengthen media advocacy and public enlightenment on GBV prevention, focused on empowering media professionals to promote a culture of zero tolerance for abuse, discrimination, and exploitation in society.

Speaking at the event, Ismael Omipidan, former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola,

emphasized the critical role of the media in shaping public attitudes and policies that protect vulnerable groups, especially children and women.

 “With my experience in journalism, child abuse remains prevalent in some parts of the country, particularly in the North where some parents unknowingly expose their children to harm,” Omipidan said.

“There are also cases where individuals volunteer to sponsor a girl’s education but later withdraw support due to fear of her being influenced by others. These issues reflect deeper economic and social gaps that must be addressed.”

Omipidan also raised concerns about cyberbullying, noting that “Osun appears to be a hyperactive state in terms of online engagement, and we must learn to deploy these tools responsibly to enhance our daily lives.”

He recalled a troubling case of a three-year-old assaulted by a school teacher, which drew the intervention of a state governor, saying such incidents highlight the need for continuous vigilance and public accountability.

 “Such abuses are still common in public schools, but many go unreported,” he noted.

The forum explored the role of journalists in driving behavioral and institutional change against gender-based violence.

Participants emphasized that the media must go beyond reporting incidents to advocating for preventive education, holding perpetrators accountable, and amplifying survivors’ voices.

 “As journalists, we can lead advocacy campaigns to end the culture of silence,” Omipidan urged.

“Most rape victims hardly share their ordeals because of victimization, and this must change. Through education and awareness, we can help the younger generation reflect, resist, and respond to abuse.”

The Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative continues to partner with government agencies, civil society groups, and the media to create a safer and more equitable environment for all.

Abioye Tosin Lawrence is the publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper and author of the upcoming memoir, “Voices from the Fire: My Journey Through a Hollow Empire.”