By Abayomi Elias
The Child Protection Network Lagos State chapter has simultaneously expanded and inaugurated committee of advocates across the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDA’s to further champion the activities of child protection in the State.
Newsconnect reports that this expansion which created community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs) across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos was made possible with the support of SOS Children Village.
CPN’s goal according to the organisers of the event is to protect children from various forms of harm, including violence, exploitation, and abuse by empowering communities to take ownership of child protection issues and work together to address them.
Its mandate include raising awareness about child rights and promoting safe practices to prevent harm within those communities in the state. To identify children at risk, report incidents of abuse or neglect, and facilitate access to support services.
over 100 participants with high community representation ranging from community members, parents, teachers, religious leaders, market women, traditional leaders, youths and a few children witnessed the auspicious occasion.
The participants received training on child protection issues, reporting procedures, and available resources and referral mechanisms coordination with local government agencies, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach to child protection.
The Coordinator National Human Rights Commission Lukas Koyejo told Newsconnect at the event that the inauguration and training of CPN coordinators in local governments in Lagos state went very smoothly.
“People learn a lot about protection of children in Lagos State and even in Nigeria under our laws. Practical tips, practical aspect of what really need to do to protect the Children that is what we did successfully today.
“I want the participants to take the objective, the purpose of CPN very seriously, the children are our future. The better protection we give them now, the more successful they will become in the future.
“So we have a part to play in that, that is the reason they are here, they should take that seriously. The children are the number one protector of themselves, they should learn, they should know that nobody is allowed to touch their body anyhow.
“They should know the child right protects them and the children need to be aware of their rights”. He said
Prince Awofeso Rasheed, the State Secretary of Lagos State Child Protection Network talked about the training of the inaugurated officers and the importance of the expansion of community advocates for child protection.
“The issues of child abuse is all over places, by having them, the more the merrier. In an expanded program, more of our activities will be noticed in every communities in Lagos State.
“Human capacity is key, when you want people to function, train them. When you train them, theu can use the capacity to harness your activity wherever they found themselves.
“All the people seated here today, they are now advocates for child, advocates of children in Lagos state. They should be ready to serve the community religiously, adequately so that children in our community can be well protected against any forms of abuse..They should prevent children from being abused.
“When it happens, they should give GV attention so that justice can be served. When a child is being abused, you need to carry out rescue and justice must be served through normal referral pathway.
“Children should be ready to protect themselves, when they see something, they say something and something must be done”. He said.
Lagos State Coordinator of Child Protection Network Ronke Oyelakin thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu for championing this with the first lady.
Im her words during an interview at the event, she said;
“We want to say a very big thank you to all our stakeholders, the ministry of youths for their support”. She said