Ogbodo-Adoga highlights rising mental health, drug abuse and insecurity concerns among youth at Abuja lecture

A Professor of Guidance and Counselling at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Rosemary Ochanya Ogbodo-Adoga, has called for urgent investment in guidance and counselling services to tackle key societal challenges hindering Nigeria’s sustainable development. She made this call on Tuesday while delivering the institution’s 40th Inaugural Lecture at the NOUN Conference Centre in Abuja.

Ogbodo-Adoga, speaking on the theme “Guidance and Counselling for All: A Pathway to National Development,” stressed that effective counselling is critical for addressing issues such as examination malpractice, cultism, drug abuse, unemployment, insecurity, indiscipline, peer pressure and mental health difficulties—especially among young Nigerians. She said guidance services provide citizens with vital support in making informed educational, social and psychological decisions.

According to the professor, Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with youth unemployment and social vices are partly linked to inadequate access to professional guidance. She argued that without structured counselling programmes in schools and communities, many young people are left vulnerable to negative influences that undermine their future prospects and national productivity.

“Guidance helps individuals understand their capabilities and challenges so they can make positive choices,” Ogbodo-Adoga stated during her presentation. She described guidance and counselling as indispensable tools for equipping citizens with life skills needed for nation building. The professor urged policymakers to prioritise funding and training for counsellors at all levels of the education system.

While some stakeholders have previously questioned the practicality of large-scale counselling initiatives amid budget constraints, Ogbodo-Adoga maintained that investing in people’s wellbeing is essential for sustainable development. The event drew academics, students and government representatives from across the North-Central zone. As at press time, education authorities had yet to issue a formal response to her recommendations.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-cannot-achieve-sustainable-devt-without-guidance-and-counselling-prof-ogbodo-adoga/

Defence sources say women and children fled insurgent hideouts, handed over to Operation HADIN KAI troops for profiling

No fewer than eleven relatives of Boko Haram members surrendered to Nigerian Army troops under Operation HADIN KAI in Bama Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, on Monday, 24 June. Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed that the group, comprising five women and six children from Chongolo and Ladantar villages, turned themselves in at different locations around Banki town.

According to intelligence sources cited by Makama, the first set—four women and four minors from Chongolo village—approached soldiers of the 152 Task Force Battalion. Another woman and two children from Ladantar village separately surrendered at Banki Junction to the 151 Task Force Battalion. The surrender reportedly took place around 6:00 p.m., with all individuals seeking safety away from insurgent enclaves.

Preliminary checks by military personnel indicate that the eleven are immediate family members of active Boko Haram fighters who have been displaced due to ongoing security operations in the region. The North-East has witnessed intensified military action against armed groups in recent months, leading to a rise in surrenders by both combatants and their relatives as at June.

A senior defence source involved in Operation HADIN KAI said that standard procedure involves initial screening and profiling before those surrendering are moved to designated rehabilitation camps. “We continue to encourage those willing to lay down their arms or dissociate from criminal elements to do so without fear of harm,” the officer stated during a phone interview.

The development comes as Borno State authorities intensify efforts to close large camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and reintegrate affected communities. Stakeholders have called for improved support systems for returnees and relatives of insurgents amid concerns over security vetting and long-term reintegration. The Army is expected to brief state officials before deciding on the next phase for those who surrendered.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/relatives-of-boko-haram-terrorists-surrender-to-troops-in-borno/

Initiative partners with Sisters of Jannah and Sana Pads, targets period poverty as bank plans expansion to other states

Baobab Microfinance Bank has completed the first phase of its Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Project in Ilorin, Kwara State, distributing 500 reusable sanitary pads to schoolgirls across two schools on Tuesday. The intervention, carried out in partnership with local NGO Sisters of Jannah (SOJ) and Kano-based manufacturer Sana Pads, aims to address the pressing issue of period poverty which forces many girls to miss classes or drop out entirely.

The bank’s intervention was not a one-off donation but a carefully designed project targeting schools identified through SOJ’s grassroots network within Ilorin. The reusable pads supplied by Sana Pads are intended to provide longer-term relief compared to disposable alternatives, reducing costs for families already struggling with basic needs. The selection of beneficiaries was based on community insight, ensuring support reached girls most at risk of educational disruption due to lack of menstrual hygiene products.

Period poverty remains a widespread problem in Nigeria, especially among adolescent girls from low-income backgrounds who often cannot afford sanitary products. This leads to frequent absenteeism and loss of learning opportunities, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities. By tackling this challenge head-on, Baobab Microfinance Bank is signalling its intention to use its national presence—it operates 38 branches across 16 states—to scale the initiative beyond Kwara State.

Mistura Afolabi, who represented Sisters of Jannah during the distribution exercise, said: “Our work within this community has shown us the daily realities many girls face due to a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. We are proud to have partnered with Baobab Microfinance Bank on this important intervention. Through this collaboration, we ensured that support reached the girls who needed it most. This is how meaningful and lasting change begins.”

Joy Micheal-Oti, Chief Business Development Officer at Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria, noted: “At Baobab Microfinance Bank, we believe that every girl deserves the opportunity to learn without interruption. Menstrual health is not a privilege; it is a basic right. This intervention in Ilorin marks the beginning of a broader commitment to addressing period poverty across Nigeria. We are determined to scale this initiative to multiple states and ensure that no girl’s education is disrupted because of a lack of access to menstrual products.”

Barisi Samuels, Social Performance Manager at Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria, added: “Executing this project reinforced why this work matters so deeply. Beyond the distribution of sanitary pads, we delivered something even more important: dignity, confidence, and reassurance to these girls that they are seen, valued, and supported. I am proud of what we achieved alongside Sisters of Jannah and Sana Pads and enthusiastic about the future of this initiative.”

While details for Phase Two—including additional beneficiary schools and target states—are yet to be announced by Baobab Microfinance Bank management, stakeholders say groundwork has been laid for broader reach. The bank’s involvement signals growing private sector interest in tackling issues previously left solely to NGOs or government agencies.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/baobab-microfinance-bank-leads-menstrual-hygiene-intervention-in-ilorin-schools-2026062609361002645