By Israel Adamu, Jos
Iternational non-profit organisation Both Ends Believing (BEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Plateau State Government in strengthening its child protection system through technology, capacity building and policy development. The pledge was made on Friday during the Plateau State Data Review and Debrief Meeting held in Jos.Country Director of BEB, Silas Gyang, said the organisation’s mission is focused on ensuring that every child grows up in a safe and loving family environment. He emphasised that BEB’s interventions prioritise both safety and emotional care, noting that “safe” and “loving” are not automatically the same.“We want to be sure that the children we support are growing in environments that truly protect them,” he stated.
Gyang recalled that Plateau became the first state in Nigeria to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEB, alongside the Association of Orphanages and Home Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), to create digital identities for children in orphanages. The agreement was signed about a year ago.He said BEB, established globally in 2010 and operational in Nigeria since November 2022, first entered the country through its partnership with ASOHON. The collaboration, he added, paved the way for broader access to government institutions and expanded operations.“We are now operating in almost all the states in Nigeria except a few — Taraba, Kogi, Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto,” he said.According to Gyang, the organisation has covered 231 childcare institutions nationwide and documented the digital identities of 7,140 children through its Children First Software, a web-based platform provided free to government.Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Caroline Dafur, represented by Permanent Secretary Rebecca Shaseet, said the state remains committed to strengthening child protection mechanisms and improving data systems that support vulnerable children.“
Today’s gathering defines our shared commitment to advancing child protection and strengthening the data systems that support this mandate across Plateau State,” she said. She added that the MoU with BEB represents a promise to ensure that every vulnerable child is documented, supported and given the opportunity to thrive.Dafur commended BEB for its technical support, including the donation of computers and printers, and for working closely with the state to modernise its systems. “We owe our communities, our constituencies, and the values for which we work nothing less,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Sandra Chikan, National Northern Vice President of ASOHON, stressed the importance of data in driving reforms within the child care system. She noted that data helps identify gaps, assess progress and unlock potential for improved child welfare interventions.“Without it, many of us may just be running around in circles. But with it, we’ll see the gaps, we’ll see the work that has been done, and we’ll see the potential each one of us has to impact even more for our children,” Chikan said.
