•Inspects Crèche, Leprosarium, Skills Acquisition Centre
From our news desk, Benin
The House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development on Wednesday, 29 July, 2026 continued its assessment visit to Edo State with inspections of key social welfare and empowerment facilities.
The Committee visited the Edo State Crèche, Ossiomo-Ogan Leprosarium and the Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu; all aimed at evaluating programmes and interventions for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
The delegation, led by the Director/Clerk of the Committee, Hajia Aishatu Inusa, was accompanied by the Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien; officials from the Office of the First Lady; directors and staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
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The director of media in the Ministry, Daisy Osunde made this known in a press release circulated amongst journalists in Benin on Thursday.
Osunde said, the team first visited the Edo State Crèche located within the State Secretariat Complex along Sapele Road, Benin City, where they inspected the facility and interacted with caregivers.
The visit provided the committee the opportunity to assess the quality of childcare services, and the environment provided for children in the state’s care.
The delegation thereafter proceeded to the Ossiomo-Ogan Leprosarium, where members engaged with residents and assessed the condition of the facility as part of the Committee’s mandate to evaluate projects and initiatives targeted at women, children, girls, families and other vulnerable persons, it was said.
“Addressing the residents, the Senior Legislative Officer of the National Assembly, Benedict Chukwuma, and the Registrar of Family Affairs Consultancy Services (FACS), Farouq Umar explained that the assessment visit was designed to evaluate programmes and interventions of the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
“They assured the residents that the concerns raised during the visit would be adequately documented and presented to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.”
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah reassured of the Ministry’s commitment to partnering with the Office of the First Lady, to provide sustained support for the residents of the leprosarium.
Abdallah was quoted to have asserts; that Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo remains committed to the welfare of every Edo citizen, assuring the residents that they would not be left out of the State’s developmental agenda.
According to the Commissioner, the Ministry remains dedicated to promoting the welfare of women, girls, children, families and other vulnerable persons through policies and programmes that improve their quality of life.
The Committee had a briefing on the State Leprosarium, by the Chief Protocol Officer in the Office of the First Lady and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Pastor Mrs. Mabel Obetoh.
Many residents of the leprosarium had acquired various vocational skills, but lacked the financial resources to establish sustainable businesses, she was said to have informed the delegation.
Obetor further disclosed, that the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani has adopted the leprosarium as one of her priority humanitarian projects, and makes regular visits to the community, providing continuous support.
She added that the Office of the First Lady recently released the sum of ₦1 million to support the residents’ medical needs, it was stated.
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Earlier, on behalf of the residents, Ahmed Mohammed expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit, describing it as the first time a House of Representatives Committee had visited the community.
In the same vein, the Ogan Community Secretary, Anthony Idugboe, and the Youth Leader, John Igbinovia thanked the delegation for identifying with the community.
As the community leaders were said to have made a long list of appeals for government intervention.
They include; the renovation of dilapidated residential buildings, construction of a community town hall, and the rehabilitation of the access road.
Others were, restoration of electricity which has been unavailable for more than ten months, and the revival of the community secondary school.
Continuing, the delegation was said to have also visited the Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre at Evbomodu, where they were conducted round the various training departments by the management of the centre.
The committee inspected facilities in the Catering, Fashion Design, Computer Studies, Hair Dressing and Cosmetology departments, where residents of the State receive vocational and entrepreneurial training free of charge.
Members of the delegation were said to have commended the centre’s role in equipping beneficiaries with practical skills for self-reliance, and economic empowerment.
The assessment visit forms part of the House Committee’s nationwide oversight exercise aimed at evaluating the implementation and impact of programmes and projects; designed to promote the welfare of women, children, families and other vulnerable groups across the country, it was stated.
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