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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
No fewer than 13,500 children have been declared as vulnerable in Borno, Edo and Plateau States, and have been pencilled down for empowerment by the European Union-funded project.
Country Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Eghosa Erhumwunse, who disclosed this, said the project would last for 34 months.
According to Erhumwunse, the project titled: ‘Strengthening child care and protection systems in Nigeria’ will respond to the care and protection of children, in the area of education and healthcare.
“With the generous support of the European Union, this project will be implemented in Edo, Borno and Plateau states as well as at the national level.
“It is a comprehensive and structured response designed to fortify both state institutions and community-level safety nets for children in need of care and protection.
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“At the heart of this project is the commitment to strengthen the legal and policy frameworks guiding child protection, particularly the Child Rights Law and the Alternative Care Guidelines.
“It seeks to build the technical capacity of key ministries, childcare professionals, and service providers to deliver quality care based on best practices and international standards as well as leverage advocacy and community strengthening efforts for effective sustainability.
“Over the course of 36 months, this project will be implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in partnership CISLAC and the Jireh Doo Foundation reaching over 13,500 vulnerable children, support 900 caregivers, and build the capacity of at least 240 childcare professionals directly, 72 Government agencies and many more.
The project is poised to impact over one million children and their families across the focus states. Beyond these numbers lies the true value of this initiative restoring safety, dignity, and hope to children whose rights have been ignored or violated for far too long.
“The protection of children is not the sole responsibility of one institution or actor, it is a collective moral imperative. As we unveil this important project today, I ask each of us to renew our individual and institutional commitment to building a Nigeria where every child is protected, respected, and free to thrive,” he said.
EU Head of Cooperation, Massimo De Luca, explained that the protection system would be implemented by SOS Children’s Children Village, Norway, Jurado Foundation, and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC.
