Nigeria is launching comprehensive reforms to its child protection framework, with adoption regulations receiving particular attention as part of broader efforts to safeguard children’s welfare across the country.
Thank you for reading this post; don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
At a news conference marking the Children’s Day celebration in Abuja, organised jointly with Save the Children International, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach to strengthening child protection mechanisms.
The adoption review represents just one component of the child protection agenda that includes establishing a dedicated Child Protection Knowledge and Data Centre and finalising a comprehensive Child Protection Services structure encompassing formal protection, reporting, response, and rehabilitation services.
“We are reviewing adoption regulations to strengthen processes that prevent abuse in that space,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated, noting that the reforms aim to ensure adoption procedures become more transparent, efficient, and fundamentally child-centred.
The government is simultaneously advancing revised National Crèche Guidelines designed to regulate childcare facilities and prevent institutional abuse. These efforts complement the ongoing promotion of the approved six-month maternity leave policy for new mothers and two-week paternity leave for fathers.
Central to the government’s vision is strengthening the Nigerian Children’s Parliament at both national and state levels. “We recognise it as a vital platform for child participation, leadership, and advocacy on development issues,” the minister explained. “The voices of our children matter, and we must amplify them in shaping policies that affect their present and future.”
Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children International, reinforced this child-centred approach, arguing that young people must be actively involved in identifying challenges and developing solutions rather than being viewed merely as vulnerable recipients of protection.
“Children are not just victims; they are part of the solution,” Harvey stated, advocating for child-led platforms, peer support groups, and school-based initiatives that encourage youth participation in policy development and anti-bullying measures.
The comprehensive reforms signal Nigeria’s commitment to creating robust systems that protect children while empowering them as active participants in their welfare and development.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: http://bit.ly/3I7mQVx
Or scan the QR code:
