The Oyo State Government has taken a significant step toward enhancing child protection by establishing a special committee tasked with creating the state's first comprehensive Child Safeguarding Policy. This landmark initiative was launched during the second Oyo State Child Safeguarding Summit held at the Civic Centre in Idi-Ape, Ibadan.
Summit Brings Together Child Protection Stakeholders
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. Toyin Balogun, inaugurated the Technical Working Committee (TWC) during the summit organized by Haven Initiative in partnership with her ministry. The event gathered government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and child protection experts under the theme "Strengthening Partnerships: Accelerating Safe and Protective Environments for Children in Oyo State."
Represented by Mr. Diya Ogunjimi, Commissioner Balogun described the gathering as a collective call to action, highlighting that children across various communities continue to face increasing risks of abuse, exploitation, and neglect. She emphasized that fragmented interventions must be replaced with coordinated and sustained partnerships to effectively protect children.
"Every child deserves safety, dignity and the freedom to dream without fear," she stated, urging all stakeholders to make commitments that will shape the protective systems of tomorrow.
Building Comprehensive Child Protection Framework
The newly inaugurated Technical Working Committee will draft a safeguarding framework aligned with global best practices. The policy aims to make child safeguarding "a standard, not an aspiration" across schools, health facilities, religious institutions, and communities throughout Oyo State.
During panel sessions, participants examined persistent gaps in child protection, highlighted effective community models, and proposed innovative strategies to strengthen safety nets for vulnerable children. The discussions focused on creating sustainable systems that prioritize children's welfare.
In a goodwill message, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Abiodun Ayodeji Aikomo, represented by Deborah Collins, reiterated the ministry's commitment to child protection and pledged full support for the development of the Safeguarding Policy. Collins praised the Ministry of Women Affairs for its steadfast leadership in driving child protection reforms.
Progress Since First Summit and Future Directions
Significant progress has been made since the inaugural 2024 summit, including the passage of the Alternative Care Guideline for Children, ongoing engagements with the House of Assembly, and the selection of members for the policy drafting committee. "These milestones show that our commitments have translated into measurable action," Collins noted.
The Attorney-General designated Collins as the ministry's representative on the committee, recognizing her expertise in child rights advocacy and criminal justice.
Programme Manager of SOS Children's Villages Nigeria (Oyo State), Mr. Gabriel Adajie, called on government agencies, civil society groups, and community leaders to deepen collaboration, stressing that protective environments cannot be built in isolation. He described the summit as timely and vital, emphasizing that safeguarding must be rooted in empathy, accountability, and social justice.
Adajie highlighted the need for sustained investment in frontline training, community monitoring systems, and child-inclusive policies while reaffirming SOS Children's Villages' commitment to preventing child-family separation and strengthening community resilience.
Convener of the summit and Harvard EdX-certified child safeguarding expert, Mrs. Omotayo Adebayo, urged stakeholders to treat child protection as a shared responsibility. She announced the launch of her debut book, "The Guardians of Innocence," describing it as a practical resource for schools and child protection practitioners.
"This summit is a wake-up call," she declared. "Let us work together to build a future where every child is safe, protected, and empowered to succeed."
The summit also featured a Shadow Children's Parliament, where child representatives from across the state discussed critical issues including child labour, child marriage, and rising cases of children dying following sexual abuse, giving voice to the very individuals the policy aims to protect.
