Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has cautioned that the state will no longer tolerate child marriage.

He threatened to wield full enforcement of laws protecting the rights and dignity of the girl child.

According to him, the warning was a bold stance against entrenched cultural practices threatening the well-being of young girls.

Speaking at a one-day Media Hangout, Capacity Training and Policy Advocacy in Ilorin for selected journalists, non-governmental organisations and other key stakeholders, themed “Safeguarding Our adolescents at homes, schools and communities to reach their full potential”, organised by Chidimma and Havilah Foundation in collaboration with the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the governor warned that early marriage poses grave danger to girls’ health, future and freedom.

He disclosed that the state has domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. “We are fully committed to its implementation. Early marriage is not only a violation of the Child Rights Act, it is a life-threatening menace that leads to complications like obstetric fistula and robs young girls of their dreams,” the governor said.

Represented by the Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima-Imam, AbdulRazaq commended the partnering NGOs, pledging his administration’s support for adolescents in the state.

In his lecture, titled “Empowering the Next Generation: The Media’s Role in Nurturing Safe Environments for Adolescents”, Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare, reinforced the need for national mobilisation and grassroots advocacy to uphold the rights of every Nigerian child.

He said that media literacy, parental responsibility, and sustained government actions are keys to reversing the trend of violence, neglect, and abuse facing Nigerian adolescents.

The NOA boss emphasised the essential role the media plays in shaping the future of adolescents and nurturing safe environments for them.

Dare also outlined several strategies aimed at empowering adolescents to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NUJ Kwara council, Malam Abdullateef Lanre Ahmed, drew attention to the alarming rise in technology-driven gender-based violence, citing recent cases of ritual-related killings involving young girls.

“The tragic case of Hafsoh, a student of Kwara State College of Education, is a wake-up call. We must collectively act to protect our children,” he said.

He called for the holistic implementation of the VAPP Act and urged parents to embrace open conversations around sex education, online safety, and the risks of digital exposure.

In his remarks, the founder of the Chidimma and Havilah Foundation, Mr Tope Omotosho, who spoke through Miss Havilah Omotosho, emphasised the foundation’s dedication to adolescent empowerment, particularly for vulnerable girls.

“Our partnership with the NUJ is to amplify advocacy and create mass awareness on how to protect adolescents, especially the girl-child, within the family, in schools, and the workplace,” he said.

Omotosho lauded the unwavering support of the First Lady of Kwara State, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, describing her as “a dependable ally in the fight for a safe and inclusive society for young girls.”

He pledged the foundation’s continued investment in campaigns, sensitisation programmes, and community engagements aimed at preventing abuse and promoting girls’ education, healthcare access, and personal development.

Veteran broadcaster and former Commissioner for Sports in Kwara State, Alhaji Hameed Adio, challenged media professionals to champion value-based content and combat moral decay among young people.

“The media must take a proactive role in setting new narratives, showcasing excellence, discouraging harmful content, and engaging in advocacy journalism that inspires positive change,” he said.

He urged media houses to embrace digital tools and social platforms to expand their reach, counter misinformation, and promote the autobiographies and success stories of inspirational Nigerians as a counterweight to celebrity culture and sensationalism.

He also called for communal mentorship revival, adding that traditional systems of guidance and discipline must be modernised and institutionalised to protect adolescents from abuse, addiction, and exploitation.

The event brought together journalists, advocates, and civil society leaders to strengthen the role of the media in safeguarding adolescents from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.