Human Rights
Senate Leader Bamidele Donates Bus to FIDA Ekiti
… Warns against misuse of AI, digital platforms
By Rotimi Aleshinloye
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has donated a brand-new bus to the Ekiti State Branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to boost its operations in defence of women and children, while warning against the rising dangers of Artificial Intelligence and digital abuse.
The donation was made during the 2026 FIDA Ekiti Law Week held in Ado-Ekiti, with the theme: “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
Senator Bamidele, who was guest speaker at the event, said the protection of women and children should be treated as a constitutional duty, a developmental imperative and an investment in Nigeria’s future stability and prosperity.
He noted that while globalisation, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, climate change and insecurity have created new opportunities, they have also exposed women and children to more complex forms of vulnerability, worsened in Nigeria by poverty, unemployment, weak social protection and poor enforcement of laws.
According to him, Nigeria must go beyond enacting laws to ensuring effective enforcement, institutional accountability, adequate funding and measurable outcomes.
Bamidele listed gender-based violence, discrimination, domestic abuse, rape, trafficking, harmful traditional practices and technology-facilitated abuse as major threats to women. He warned about emerging digital dangers including AI-generated fake sexual images, impersonation and online blackmail, adding that stigmatisation, economic dependence and lack of shelters and legal aid still prevent many survivors from seeking justice.
He also decried women’s disproportionate engagement in informal and unpaid care work, limited access to credit, land and digital skills, and their underrepresentation in politics due to financial barriers, intimidation and discriminatory party structures.
On children, the lawmaker identified physical and sexual abuse, child labour, trafficking, child marriage and digital exploitation as persistent threats, particularly for children with disabilities, displaced children, orphans and those living in extreme poverty.
Earlier, Chairperson of FIDA Ekiti, Mrs. Ayobami Olowoyo, described the theme as timely, saying changing societal realities demand stronger institutions and more responsive justice for vulnerable groups. She reaffirmed the association’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and children through advocacy, free legal services and partnerships.
The Law Week, which featured Prof. Smarander Olarinde as keynote speaker, was attended by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, the Onise of Odo-Oro Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Jemileyin, Hon. Steve Fatoba, President of the Customary Court, Mrs. Foluke Oyeleye, and other members of the bench, bar and traditional institution.
The planning committee said the deliberations were aimed at translating discussions into practical actions to ensure justice remains accessible to every woman and child.