In a bid to ensure the safety and overall well-being of children across the State, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in conjunction with the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), has organised a sensitisation programme on the implementation of the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for Heads, Administrators and Stakeholders of Schools under the Lagos Education District I.

In her welcome address at the two-day sensitisation programme held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, reiterated the need to ensure that structures are put in place for the safety and overall well-being of children in schools, saying: “It has become pertinent to educate Teachers and Heads of Schools on their roles in ensuring that the policy is successfully implemented”.
While reassuring Lagosians of the Agency’s commitment to the safety and protection of all children in Lagos State, Vivour-Adeniyi disclosed that the programme will soon be extended to other Education Districts in the State.

A Child Protection Expert, Mr. Taiwo Akinlami, spoke extensively on the rights of a child and the cultural perceptions of child abuse, adding that children should be allowed to enjoy the right to life, to develop, have a decent standard of living and be protected from abuse.
“These rights are inalienable and should be protected to prevent a mismanaged childhood. This is because a mismanaged childhood leads to dysfunctional adulthood”, he added.

On her part, Mrs. Modupeola Adebambo, a Gender-Based Violence Specialist at Safe Haven, an NGO, provided an overview of the executive order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, explaining the roles and responsibilities of Principals of Schools in ensuring full compliance with the policy, the safety of their students, safer recruitment procedure, adopting a safeguarding policy and a designated safeguarding officer.

The representative of the Director-General, OEQA, Mrs. Bimpe Savage, highlighted the types of abuse and the need for schools to put precautionary measures in place to ensure the safety of the children.

She further urged the participants to take advantage of the free online course on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy available on the website: www.safeguardingchildren.org.ng