Edo Govt. Deepens Child Protection Drive at Second Quarter SCRIC Meeting

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of children through strengthened collaboration, effective coordination, and the sustained implementation of the Child Rights Law.

This commitment was reiterated by the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, in her keynote address at the Second Quarter Meeting of the State Child Rights Implementation Committee (SCRIC), held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Benin City. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, the Commissioner emphasized that child protection is a collective responsibility requiring the active participation of government, development partners, security agencies, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, communities, families, and other relevant stakeholders.

She commended the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria for their continued partnership, noting that their support has significantly strengthened child protection interventions and advocacy efforts across Edo State. She further explained that the meeting was convened to review the implementation of the Committee’s first-quarter work plan, assess achievements and challenges, address emerging safeguarding concerns, and adopt practical strategies to enhance child protection initiatives in the second quarter.

Hon. Abdallah reaffirmed the State Government’s resolve to fully implement the Child Rights Law, ensuring that every child is protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence, and other harmful practices. She urged members of the Committee to remain committed to the resolutions reached, stressing that sustained collaboration is essential to building a safer and more inclusive environment where every child can survive, develop, participate, and thrive.

In their goodwill messages, development partners commended the Ministry’s leadership in strengthening child protection systems. The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, represented by Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy and CISLAC State Fiscal Point for Edo State, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting child rights initiatives. Also speaking, Mr. Innocent Maduekwe, Project Manager (Consortium Lead) for the European Union Project, pledged deeper collaboration with the Ministry and other stakeholders to advance child protection and promote the welfare of children across the state.

The meeting featured the adoption of the minutes of the previous session, a comprehensive review of the Committee’s work plan—including implemented activities, pending tasks, and identified challenges—and the adoption of a new second-quarter work plan. Members also constituted the School Monitoring Sub-Committee to strengthen oversight of child protection issues within educational institutions.

A key highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Mr. Omokhodion Imonitie of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme on the Local Child Rights Implementation Committee (LCRIC). He outlined the Committee’s roles, composition, and significance, while emphasizing the need to establish LCRICs across all 18 local government areas to strengthen grassroots implementation of child rights policies.

The meeting brought together representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, security agencies, civil society organisations, professional bodies, faith-based organisations, and other key stakeholders, who collectively reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration and advancing child protection initiatives across Edo State.