The Chairperson, Federation of Women Lawyers Association, Kwara State chapter, Mrs. Oluronke Adeyemi, has said that the slot allocated to women in the ministerial list submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari is inadequate.

She said while appointment should be made on merit, the group could not be convinced that there were no competent women that could be appointed as ministers. She stated that more women should be included, adding that there are many competent women who will assist in the development of the country.

She spoke on Monday during a media briefing on FIDA Week in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Adeyemi also urged the Senate to ensure that only competent people were approved as ministers.

She also warned against child abuse, saying the spate of assault on children in recent time had attained an alarming proportion.

She also decried the rape of young people even by family members.

Adeyemi said, "In recent years, the assault on our children has attained an alarming proportion. Stories of defilement of children, both boys and girls, at ages even as low as less than a year, are daily occurrences.

"Another disturbing trend that this association has observed is the physical and psychological abuse of children which has become very rampant.

"We have seen children burnt with hot irons. Some were made to sit on burning coals. Some had boiling water poured on them and we even had the case of a young girl who was set on fire.

"We have children who were deliberately starved. Some were put to hard labour; some were mercilessly beaten and some rendered homeless and left to the cruel hands of fate."

She called for attitudinal change, adding that all stakeholders should collaborate more to stop child abuse.