From Rights to Protection: Oyo State Moves to Adopt Comprehensive Child Safeguarding Policy

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Children’s Day, stakeholders at the Oyo State Child Safeguarding Summit 2025 have urged the state government to adopt a comprehensive Child Protection Policy to guarantee the safety and welfare of every child in the state.

The summit was organised by the Haven Initiative for Women and Children, in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, UNICEF, and other development partners. It brought together representatives from both the public and private sectors to deliberate on strengthening child safeguarding systems across Oyo State.

Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Partnerships: Accelerating Safe & Protective Environment For Children In Oyo State,” renowned child protection advocate and founder of the Taiwo Akinlami Academy, Barrister Taiwo Akinlami, emphasised the urgent need to make children’s safety a collective priority. Sharing his personal experience of childhood abuse, Akinlami highlighted the emotional and psychological harm children face and the long-term impact of such trauma.

“If we fail to nurture and preserve their childhood, they may become a terror in the future,” he warned.
“I was a victim of child abuse. I lost my virginity at age six and was labelled ‘Evil Boy.’ But when I found courage at 27 and pursued education, I committed my life to ensuring that no child goes through such trauma.”

He called for the immediate development and adoption of a statewide Child Protection Policy, arguing that the existing Child Rights Law does not adequately address present-day threats to children. According to him, “By this time next year, we should be launching the Oyo State Child Protection Policy. There must be standards, there must be a document, and no one should claim ignorance.”

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, described child safety as “non-negotiable.” She stressed that safeguarding must extend beyond schools to homes, religious institutions, communities, and digital spaces. She commended Oyo State for taking proactive steps, describing the summit as a strong signal that the state is ready to create a safer environment for all children.

Representatives from Oyo SUBEB, FIDA, NSCDC, FRSC, the Police, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Ministry of Justice, JDPC, NOA, Child Protection Network Ibadan, as well as teachers, parents, and students, all emphasized the need for coordinated action. They reiterated that child protection must be prioritised because “children are the leaders of tomorrow,” and safeguarding efforts must translate from discussions into concrete interventions.

The Executive Director of the Haven Initiative for Women and Children Development and Safety, Mrs. Omotayo Adebayo, described the inauguration of the Oyo State Safeguarding Social Policy Technical Committee as a major milestone. According to her, the forthcoming policy will apply to all secondary schools, health facilities, and places where children gather. She noted that the objective is to prevent harm, define stakeholder roles, and amend the Oyo State Child Rights Law of 2006 to close existing gaps.

Adebayo added that some parents still fail to report sexual violence due to lack of awareness, stressing that the new policy will ensure such cases are treated as state offences to limit trauma and increase accountability.

The Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Oyo State, Mrs. Ajolayo Akande, commended the government for progress made in public sensitisation on children’s rights. Similarly, Social Development Lawyer Olabisi Afolabi stressed the need to involve children directly in policy development, noting that “every child—boys, girls and the vulnerable—deserves equal protection.”

One of the major highlights of the summit was the inauguration of the Technical Working Committee responsible for drafting the Oyo State Child Safeguarding Policy. Members were drawn from government ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and NGOs. They took an oath of office and were officially saddled with the responsibility of developing the policy.

Another significant moment was the unveiling of “The Guardians of Innocence,” a new book on child safeguarding authored by Mrs. Omotayo Adebayo. The book, launched in commemoration of the Haven Initiative’s 7th anniversary, is designed to empower parents, caregivers, educators, and stakeholders to nurture and protect children more effectively.

The summit also featured a Shadow Children’s Parliament, where children representing various constituencies discussed pressing issues affecting their peers, including child labour, child marriage, and fatalities resulting from sexual abuse.

Participants expressed optimism that Oyo State is on track to become the second state in Nigeria to adopt a full Child Safeguarding Policy—a move they say signals a renewed commitment to building a safe, protective, and nurturing environment for all children in the state.