By Justina Auta
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has said efforts are in place to review the 2003 Child Rights Act (CRA) to strengthen response towards child protection and development.
This was contained in a statement signed by Najaatu Alwan-Hassan, Director, Information and Public Relations on Saturday after a visit to an orphanage in Gwagwalada area council, FCT.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CRA of 2003 is a Nigerian law that guarantees the protection of the rights of children.
It is based on international treaties and conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
According to the statement, the process was gaining momentum, as the visit was a directive by the first lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to give first hand knowledge in the review protocols.
“I can assure you that we are 100 percent committed to ensuring that we do the necessary review for the legal instrument, so that we are well protected,” she said.
The minister added that the maiden visit is a nationwide commitment from Mr President, which the Federal Capital Territory happens to be the Pilot state for everything that will be done.
“We are reviewing even adoption protocols, Orphanages certification, because there is need for absolute protection and zero tolerance of any abuse on its citizenry,” she said.
The minister commended stakeholders in the social development sector for their roles, adding that the overall benefit is to strengthen response to social protection.
She further acknowledged the Media as partners in progress, particularly in the area of sensitization and advocacy in order to achieve the level of protection needed for the citizens of Nigeria.
Earlier, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs, said the directive from the first lady was a call for action.
“We are simply here in line with our call to action, to present the Federal Capital Territory as a project pilot location for the enactment.
“There are 91 orphanages and we are doing a full review with the traditional rulership and the whole architecture,”she said.
She added that the ministry of women affairs was the first platform of reference for the intervention of every child, leaving no child behind and leaving no institution representation of child welfare behind in putting together the intervention. (NAN)
