By Adeyinka Adeniran
In a bid to ensure the eradication of child abuse in Nigeria, the Oyo State Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Dr. RoseMary Odigbo has urged parents, guardians and community members to increase effort in securing children from physical and emotional abuse.
Dr. Odigbo, who gave the advice on Friday at the sensitization meeting with residents of Akinyele Local Government, the Community Child Protection Committee (CCPC), the Children and Youth (C&Y) Parliament Council, and other relevant stakeholders, urged the government to intensify awareness of child protection and family planning, enforce rigorous punishment for offenders, and increase the financial capacity of Nigerians to curb the rising cases of child abuse in the nation.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Choice Solution Welfare Initiative International, Dr. Kemi Ademola-Aremu, who is also a facilitator at the training, emphasized that parents and guardians should recognize challenges in children and manage these issues to prevent inadvertently abusing them.
She stressed that every disability can be overcome with effective support.
In the same vein, the Oyo State Coordinator of Association against Trafficking in Persons, Child Abuse and labour, Mr. Gbola Omotosho, informed the public to financially and emotionally prepare for procreation before marriage to prevent unbalance child care.
He advise parents to have a proper family plan as improper plans opens the child to health issues and societal hazard.
While speaking, the legal adviser for the Child Protection Network for Oyo State, Barrister Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo, implore community leaders to report cases of abuse against children.
She also urged the agencies responsible for child abuse to ensure proper record-keeping and reporting of cases to enhance the prosecution of offenders.
Additionally, she enjoined leaders in different areas to consistently report cases of abuse to reduce the menace in society.
The leader of the Ajibode Oke-Ona community, Chief Akinsanmi Sunday, and other community leaders appreciated the Oyo State Government, the Child Protection Network, and SOS Children’s Village for the sensitization, noting that the acquired knowledge will enhance the safety of children in society.
They implored the government to create more awareness and provide additional financial support to public and non-governmental organizations to ensure the total eradication of child abuse in Nigeria.
