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By Damiete Braide
Stakeholders in child protection, government, the media and civil society have called for stronger support systems for survivors of child abuse, stressing that justice must go beyond the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators to include counselling, rehabilitation, medical care and long-term support.
The call was made at the public presentation of Flora’s Flower, a book authored by Funmi Ajumobi, Assistant Woman Editor at Vanguard Media Limited, held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The event, which featured a child protection summit and panel discussion, was themed “Beyond Justice: Strengthening Support Systems for Child Abuse Survivors.”
Speaking at the occasion, Editor of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Eze Anaba, said the protection of children required sustained attention, institutional commitment and collective responsibility.
Anaba, who welcomed guests to the event, described books as powerful instruments of social change, noting that they could influence public conversations, challenge established beliefs and draw attention to issues often ignored by society.
He said Flora’s Flower had come at a critical time when child protection required more than public awareness, adding that the media had an important responsibility to report cases of abuse with sensitivity, sound judgment and respect for survivors’ dignity.
According to him, journalists must give survivors a voice without exposing them to further harm, raise awareness without sensationalising their experiences and hold institutions accountable while promoting interventions that prevent abuse.
He noted that justice should not end with the prosecution of offenders but must be accompanied by compassion, counselling, family support and access to appropriate services.
Anaba commended Ajumobi for using literature and advocacy to draw attention to child protection, expressing hope that the gathering would translate into practical commitments, stronger collaboration and measurable action.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Occasion and Special Guest of Honour, Mr Olabode Olaoba, represented by Mr Kayode Filani, described the summit’s theme as a moral challenge and a collective responsibility.
He said every child represented a promise of hope, creativity, leadership and a better future, stressing that children deserved environments where their safety, dignity and development were protected.
However, he lamented that many children continued to experience physical violence, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse, neglect and other violations of their fundamental rights.
He expressed concern that abuse frequently occurred in places where children were expected to feel safest, including homes, schools, religious institutions and communities.
According to him, many victims remained silent because of fear, shame, intimidation, economic dependence and family pressure, while others suffered further trauma from society’s suspicion and lack of compassion.
He stressed that the true measure of a society’s commitment to justice was not only its ability to punish offenders but also its capacity to protect vulnerable children and provide survivors with the support needed to rebuild their lives.
Olaoba identified stronger family and community support, psychological care, effective legal institutions, educational reintegration and collaboration among stakeholders as essential elements of an effective child protection system.
He urged government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, legal practitioners, civil society organisations, development partners and community leaders to work together to address child abuse.
He also called for the effective implementation of the Child Rights Act and other relevant child-protection laws, noting that legislation must be supported by adequate resources, institutional coordination and public awareness.
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Reviewing the book, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivor-Adeniyi, described Flora’s Flower as a work of fiction built around the widespread problem of child sexual abuse and the culture of silence that allows it to persist.
The nine-chapter book follows two households in Lagos, the Maxwells and the Campbells, to demonstrate how parenting styles, communication and family relationships can influence a child’s safety and willingness to disclose abuse.
The central character, Flora, a 16-year-old student at Selah International Secondary School, suffers abuse first from a relative and subsequently from a security guard employed to protect her.
Her experience contrasts with the Campbell household, where open communication, parental guidance and attentive listening create an environment in which children can freely discuss difficult issues.
The reviewer noted that Flora’s poem, Misplaced Parenting, becomes the channel through which she eventually discloses her experience to a trusted adult.
The story highlights how fear, family reputation and the reluctance of adults to listen can prolong abuse, while believing and supporting a child can begin the healing process.
Vivor-Adeniyi observed that the book also provides useful information about children’s rights, reporting procedures, legal processes and the importance of protecting survivors’ identities.
She encouraged the author to explore opportunities for using the book in schools, parent forums and religious communities as part of broader public education and child-protection advocacy.
In her remarks, Ajumobi said the book was inspired by a troubling question: what happens to a child after the perpetrator has been arrested and prosecuted?
She explained that while accountability was important, society must also consider the survivor’s emotional wellbeing, confidence, education and ability to trust again after the legal process.
Ajumobi expressed special appreciation to former Lagos State First Lady, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, whom she credited with encouraging her to rewrite the book after an earlier version was claimed by another person.
She said the experience was painful but Fashola’s encouragement helped her return to the project because its message was more important than the disappointment.
The author disclosed that the book was designed for a global audience, with child-protection helpline information for different countries included at the back to help children and other readers identify where to seek assistance.
She also announced plans to support a breakfast-feeding initiative for children in a vulnerable community in Ikorodu, Lagos, with proceeds from the book launch.
According to her, the initiative is intended to encourage school attendance by addressing hunger, while helping to keep children within safer and more structured learning environments.
She explained that connecting nutrition, education and child protection was part of her commitment to moving beyond discussions towards practical interventions.
Ajumobi urged parents to listen to their children, teachers to remain vigilant, religious leaders to make their places of worship safe for children and government to strengthen child-protection institutions.
She also called on corporate organisations, civil society groups and the media to contribute to protecting children and supporting survivors
The author said the ultimate message of Flora’s Flower was that a survivor’s experience should not determine the future, urging society to create conditions in which every child could speak without fear, receive support and have the opportunity to heal.
