The Ondo State government has emphasised its zero tolerance for the physical, psychological or sexual maltreatment of children.

Seun Osamaye, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, stated this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Akure.

Ms Osamaye warned against child molestation, trafficking, street trading, and hawking, saying offenders would be prosecuted.

The commissioner said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was passionate about child protection rights.

She explained that the state government had implemented laws and policies against child abuse, with the political will to prosecute anybody found culpable.

“Ondo State is currently adjudged as one of the safest states for children, perhaps because of our anti-child labour policies or probably because of child safety laws and anti-child labour laws,” said Ms Osamaye.

She stated that the government engages stakeholders from different strata, and occasionally, has a committee meeting to ensure the enforcement of the policies.

“In fact, if there are, in rare cases, where we find anyone culpable of inflicting violence on any child, we take it very seriously and we deal with them,” she stated.

The commissioner said the state government often organised programmes on out-of-school children to enlighten parents and other major stakeholders in ensuring that children were enrolled in schools.

“In fact, if you look around, when you see children that are out of school here, they are mostly not even indigenous.

“Thank God for the policies and programmes of Mr Governor, which also ensure that these children are provided with basic materials to assist them to stay in schools,” she said.

Ms Osamaye, while commending the governor for his policies towards children and women, said a series of empowerment initiatives had been implemented in the last six months.

The commissioner stated that the programmes in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiatives (RHI) of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu had impacted women by giving them formidable sources of livelihood.

According to her, the empowerment programmes, which she described as non-partisan and ethnic-based, are tailored towards the betterment of society.

She said the selection process for beneficiaries was done through the 18 local government areas to ensure the inclusion of the vulnerable across the state.

“In the last six months in this administration, we’ve done a lot of empowerment for widows and vulnerable people, including the elderly and the leprosy patients.

“The essence is for them to have a means of sustainability, economic means of taking care of themselves and taking care of their children,” she said.

(NAN)