Child rights activists and social workers have been urged to deepen advocacy and prioritize personal development to tackle the growing cases of child domestic abuse and exploitation across Nigeria.
The call was made on Tuesday at a capacity-building workshop organized by CeCe Yara Child Advocacy Centre in Lagos for social workers and child protection professionals. The event held at the LCCI Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja focused on practical child welfare strategies and building a growth mindset for frontline responders.
Speaking at the workshop, gender justice and child protection expert, Mrs. Alexis Sanya-Kawa, said continuous training, mentorship and feedback are critical for advocates to make real impact.
Using Lagos as a model, she said the state has made significant strides in responding to child abuse through special courts, forensic labs and other structures.
“Lagos State is very proactive in responding to issues of child abuse and other forms of violence against persons. I would like other state governments to replicate the systems that are in place within Lagos State,” Mrs. Sanya-Kawa said.
“What we need to do now is to strengthen implementation so that these structures can deliver better results for children.”
Also speaking, counselor and mental health psychologist, Ms. Gloria Joaquim, took participants through sessions on wellness therapy and body movement healing. She stressed that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity for activists working with survivors of abuse.
“Your mental wellbeing is very important. Choose what you want. Respond with intentionality. Managing stress leads to better decision-making, which is crucial for professionals in this field,” she said.
The convener of the workshop and founder of CeCe Yara, Mrs. Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, commended the Lagos State Government for its proactive stance on child protection. She warned that abuse through exploitative domestic work is taking new dimensions and requires urgent public enlightenment.
“We have child helpline counselors, lawyers, and case workers. If they are not well equipped and not well taken care of, they will burn out and may not be able to support survivors of child domestic work,” Mrs. Ajayi-Kayode said.
“It is a case of ‘physician heal yourself’ before treating your patient. We must empower them on mental health and the risk of vicarious trauma. Every caseworker is vulnerable.”
She also called on community members and victims to speak up against the abuse of minors.
Participants, including Chief State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Public Defender, Mrs. Azeezat Ajaga, pledged to prioritize self-care while remaining committed to protecting vulnerable children.
The workshop was sponsored by The Freedom Fund with support from the United States Government. Organizers said it is part of efforts to prevent child abuse and provide support for children who have been abused.
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