Beyond Politics: Bamidele Strengthens Women’s Rights Advocacy, Donates Brand-New Bus to FIDA Ekiti.

Beyond Politics: Bamidele Strengthens Women’s Rights Advocacy, Donates Brand-New Bus to FIDA Ekiti.

The Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has donated a brand-new Toyota Hiace bus to the Ekiti State Branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers to strengthen the organisation's advocacy and legal interventions for women and children.

The donation was made on Monday during the 2026 FIDA Ekiti Law Week, held under the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, also delivered a lecture at the event, where he called for stronger legal and institutional measures to address the growing challenges confronting women and children in Nigeria.

The Senate Leader described the protection of women and children as a constitutional responsibility and an essential requirement for national development and stability.

He identified gender-based violence, human trafficking, digital blackmail, economic inequality, inadequate healthcare, political underrepresentation and digital exclusion as some of the major challenges facing women.

He also raised concerns over child abuse, trafficking, child labour, early marriage, malnutrition, limited access to quality education and online exploitation, urging relevant institutions to strengthen efforts towards addressing the problems.

Bamidele stressed the need for stronger legal frameworks, effective enforcement of existing laws, adequate funding and institutional accountability, noting that the country must move beyond making laws to ensuring their effective implementation and measurable impact.

The newly donated bus, specially branded for FIDA Ekiti, is expected to improve the organisation's mobility and strengthen its capacity to reach women and children in need of legal assistance, advocacy and other interventions across the state.

Earlier, the Chairperson of FIDA Ekiti, Mrs Ayobami Olowoyo, described the theme of the law week as timely, reaffirming the association's commitment to promoting access to justice and protecting the rights of women and children.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Prof. Smarander Olarinde, the keynote speaker; the Chief Judge of Ekiti State; the Onise of Odo-Oro Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Jemileyin; Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba; the Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Egbeyemi Olagbaju; and Hon. Fakunle Okieimen Iyabo, among others.