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Oyo State Advances Child Protection on World Children’s Day
In alignment with the global observance of World Children’s Day, key stakeholders convened at the Oyo State Child Safeguarding Summit 2025 to advocate for the establishment of a robust Child Protection Policy. This initiative aims to ensure the safety, well-being, and rights of every child within the state.
Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Child Safety Frameworks
The summit was spearheaded by the Haven Initiative for Women and Children, in partnership with the Oyo State Government, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, UNICEF, and other development organizations. It gathered diverse representatives from government agencies, civil society, and private sectors to strategize on reinforcing child safeguarding mechanisms throughout Oyo State.
Personal Testimony Highlights Urgency of Child Protection
Under the theme, “Strengthening Partnerships: Accelerating Safe & Protective Environment For Children In Oyo State,” Barrister Taiwo Akinlami, a distinguished child rights advocate and founder of the Taiwo Akinlami Academy, shared his harrowing experience of childhood abuse. He underscored the profound psychological and emotional scars such trauma inflicts, emphasizing the critical need for collective responsibility in protecting children.
“Neglecting to safeguard their childhood risks cultivating future societal challenges,” Akinlami cautioned. He recounted, “At six years old, I endured abuse and was stigmatized as ‘Evil Boy.’ It was only at 27, through education and resilience, that I dedicated myself to preventing similar suffering for other children.”
Call for a Comprehensive Statewide Child Protection Policy
Akinlami urged the immediate formulation and implementation of a comprehensive Child Protection Policy tailored to contemporary challenges, noting that the current Child Rights Law falls short in addressing emerging threats. “By this time next year, Oyo State should officially launch this policy, establishing clear standards and eliminating ignorance,” he asserted.
Expanding the Scope of Child Safeguarding
Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), emphasized that child safety is an uncompromisable priority. She advocated for safeguarding measures that extend beyond educational institutions to encompass homes, religious centers, communities, and digital environments. Praising Oyo State’s proactive stance, she described the summit as a pivotal step toward creating a safer atmosphere for children.
Unified Commitment from Diverse Stakeholders
Delegates from Oyo SUBEB, FIDA, NSCDC, FRSC, the Police, Ministries of Education, Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Justice, JDPC, NOA, Child Protection Network Ibadan, alongside educators, parents, and students, collectively stressed the necessity of coordinated efforts. They reiterated that children, as future leaders, deserve prioritized protection, and that safeguarding discussions must translate into actionable policies and programs.
Milestone: Formation of the Safeguarding Social Policy Technical Committee
Mrs. Omotayo Adebayo, Executive Director of the Haven Initiative for Women and Children Development and Safety, hailed the inauguration of the Oyo State Safeguarding Social Policy Technical Committee as a significant achievement. The forthcoming policy will encompass all secondary schools, healthcare facilities, and communal spaces frequented by children. Its goals include harm prevention, clear delineation of stakeholder responsibilities, and updating the 2006 Oyo State Child Rights Law to address existing deficiencies.
Adebayo highlighted that many parents remain unaware of how to report sexual violence, which often leads to underreporting. The new policy aims to classify such offenses as state crimes, thereby enhancing accountability and reducing trauma for victims.
Engaging Children and Enhancing Public Awareness
Mrs. Ajolayo Akande, Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Oyo State, commended the government’s strides in raising public awareness about children’s rights. Social Development Lawyer Olabisi Afolabi further advocated for the direct involvement of children in policy formulation, emphasizing that “all children-regardless of gender or vulnerability-must receive equal protection.”
Key Highlights: Policy Drafting Committee and New Educational Resources
A major event at the summit was the official swearing-in of the Technical Working Committee tasked with drafting the Oyo State Child Safeguarding Policy. This committee comprises members from government bodies, law enforcement, civil society, and NGOs, entrusted with developing a comprehensive framework for child protection.
Additionally, the summit marked the launch of “The Guardians of Innocence,” a new publication by Mrs. Omotayo Adebayo. Released in celebration of the Haven Initiative’s seventh anniversary, the book serves as a practical guide for parents, caregivers, educators, and stakeholders to better nurture and protect children.
Children’s Voices Amplified Through Shadow Parliament
The event also featured a Shadow Children’s Parliament, where young representatives from various constituencies engaged in discussions on critical issues such as child labor, early marriage, and fatalities linked to sexual abuse. This platform empowered children to voice their concerns and contribute to shaping policies that affect their lives.
Oyo State’s Path Toward Comprehensive Child Protection
Participants expressed confidence that Oyo State is poised to become Nigeria’s second state to implement a full-fledged Child Safeguarding Policy. This development signals a renewed dedication to fostering a secure, nurturing, and protective environment for all children within the state.
