Kunle Adelabu
In its attempts to ensure that every child’s rights are protected and all forms of gender – based violence eradicated, the Child Rights Law Implementation Committee in Ikorodu Local Government, has appealed to stakeholders to assist it in dissemination of information to the public.
The committee also charged members of the public to report any form of abuse against any child or gender – based abuse.
These were the focus of the stakeholders’ forum organized by the Child Rights Law Implementation Committee, themed, “Eradication of Child Molestation /Abuse and Gender Based Violence (The Role of Child Rights Law Implementation Committee)”.
The forum, which was held at the Ikorodu Local Government on Thursday (yesterday), had in attendance representatives of the Community Development Committee (CDA)/Community Development Associations (CDAs), Markets, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Parents’ Forum, Police, Youths, Political Groups, Neighbourhood Watch, Religious bodies and Traditional institutions among others.
Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government and Chairman of the Child Rights Law Implementation Committee in the council, in his address at the forum, called on the government to do more in protecting rights of children.
He also charged the British Council to assist in empowering Nigerians.
“I am indeed happy to be here today to discuss Child Rights Law. Our children have their rights which must be protected like the right to live, eat, play, to be educated”, he said.
“They also deserve protection and this is not by the parents alone but also by the government.
“I thank the implementation committee for their efforts in sensitising the public about these rights but they still need to do more because some children are still hawking on the streets.
“This is the area that I want the British Council to assist us in Nigeria by empowering parents economically to reduce poverty in our country.
The Chairman also said that it is not only children that are in need of protection but adults too.
Speaking on the theme, Mrs Modupe Aladelusi who represented the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Social Development and the keynote speaker, said that law set up the implementation committee to ensure that the rights of a child are protected.
She stated that every child has right to development, protection, life, good health care, proper education, good feeding and family among many others which they must not be denied.
She charged residents to take action by bringing cases of abuses in their areas to the attention of the implementation committee.
“We are here today to interface with stakeholders who must ensure that they assist us in the implementation of the Child Rights Law and in protecting our children and others that are being denied their rights based on their gender”, she said.
“If you notice such infraction, kindly call the attention of the implementation committee for necessary action”.
She said that once the committee takes charge of the matter, the ministry will take over if it is beyond them and that whenever any affected child needs to be taken away, the ministry usually contacts some of the homes in the locality to house such child before he/she is taken away.
The keynote speaker charged parents to show their children good examples and stop discriminating between girl and boy child because, according to her, they develop with the mindset of happenings around them.
She also warned the people about the danger inherent in giving underage girls out in marriage while asking parents to desist from the act.
Mrs Ajibola Ejimakinwa, the representative of ROLAC, commended Ikorodu Local Government for performing better than other councils in the child rights protection programme.
She called for the cooperation of stakeholders in bringing any abuse to the attention of the committee for necessary action.
Speaking earlier, Alhaji Luqman Sonibare, the Coordinator of the implementation committee in lkorodu Local Government, said that the aim of the stakeholders’ meeting was to let people know that the committee is in existence and needs residents’ support.
“We are gathered here today to let the whole world know that the Child Rights Law Implementation Committee is in existence in Ikorodu”, he said.
“We want to relate with stakeholders in achieving the aims of the committee and we will be ready to give you necessary information that you need to know about the child rights law. It is important that we keep stakeholders informed.
“We need your support in the area of you (residents) being our ears and mouth in the community and also in calling our attention to any case of abuse of children in your area”, he appealed.
He said that the committee has the mandate to eradicate the menace in the society.
“Our mission, as the implementation committee, is to eradicate abuse of children, molestation and any gender – based violence in Ikorodu Local Government and we cannot do this without the assistance of parents, police, teachers, community developers and other major stakeholders”, Alhaji Sonibare said.
The Baale of Ojogbe, Chief Kayode Olomo who said that he has studied the law, said that 85% of the provisions are good and called on the government to see to the review of other parts.
He called for caution in adopting western culture and ideals in dealing with situation in Nigeria.
Olomo, who was the representative of the traditional institution at the stakeholders’ meeting, pledged his support for the committee.
ASP Saidat Okanlawon, the officer in-charge, Family Support Unit, Ikorodu Divisional Police Headquarters, Ikorodu, described the rate of abuse as alarming and charged members of the public to assist the police in prosecuting offenders instead of harbouring and protecting them.
In his own submission, Sheik Ibrahim Anibaba who represented the Chief Imam of Ikorodu Central Mosque and Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, called on parents to ensure that they bring up their child in proper ways.
He also dismissed poverty as reasons many parents forced their children into illegal and abusive acts.
Other stakeholders at the meeting are Alhaja Allison, Iya – Oloja General, Ikorodu Division. Engr. M.A. Odupitan, Council Manager, Ikorodu Local Government, Pastor Abayomi Adelakun, Secretary, CDC, Ikorodu Division and Chairman, CDC, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Sheikh Musa Eni-Ijaoba Lamina, Chief Imam, Ikorodu North LCDA, Alhaja Rashidat Bello, Woman Leader, APC Ikorodu, Mr Henry Adenigba, Coordinator, Child Protection Network and Mrs Lawal Olaide, HoD Information, Ikorodu LG among others.
