…as Cece Yara child advocacy opens Abuja office
By Mike Oboh
To strengthen the war against child abuse and other related offences, there is the need for collaboration among the judiciary, the police and other stakeholders.
Women Affairs Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen, who sought the collaboration of Ceceyara Child Advocacy Centre to handle cases of sexual abuse of the vulnerable group in the country, it has become necessary for all to team up and curb the menace.
She said the war against gender based abuse can not be successful without the support of the police, the judiciary and other stakeholders, saying the act is unacceptable and called on all men and women to join in the fight against it.
The minister called on the foundation to extend their love for children’s right to almost all the state as the children have the right to live well.
Tallen said the abuse which is rising on daily basis need to be curtailed as the ministry will provide all the desired support for the organization to excel.
Talle, who declared this at the commissioning of Ceceyara Child Advocacy Centre at Wuse Area of the Federal Capital Territory, said the efforts of the mangers of the centre was commendable as their exploits in Lagos has shown a great deal in their quest to carry out their mission.
“One thing that excites me about Ceceyara child advocacy centre is the concept of one stop centre as it provides psychosocial, medical and legal services under one roof, in a confidential manner,” the minister said.
She urged the foundation to explore the services of other child focused organizations in others states to ensure that a great number of vulnerable groups in the country have access to their services.
Speaking earlier, the founder of the Ceceyara Yarma Child Advocacy, Mrs Bola Tinubu, said the foundation which is a leading Nigerian non government organization is focused on protecting children against sexual abuse was established in 2016 and was seeking to combat the menace of child abuse by providing preventive initiatives, project and offering immediate , physical , medical , mental and legal aids to survivors.
Tinubu said the Cece Yarma will continue to collaborate with government and private agencies in ensuring that the Nigerian child is safe and justice served where required.
She said the Abuja office which becomes operational three years after the Lagos office was established with outstanding impact in the lives of children which has accessed the services offered at the centre.
The founder also said ” our goal at the Cece Yara foundation is to see child sexual abuse eradicated in Nigeria. With the launch of our child advocacy centre, we can now provide a one stop response to ensure that every child who comes in receives vital care and support , free of charge in a calm and welcoming environment where children who have been abused can obtain justice, healing and become children again.”
She said the child advocacy centre is a child centered facility which provides a safe , non-threatening and inviting space with child-focused professionals who work together in achieving
Tinubu further said that a community free of child sexual abuse was possible but requires all the stakeholders unite to make it happen.
