In a significant move to enhance child welfare and rights protection in Nigeria, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has proposed the establishment of a Child Development and Protection Agency (CDPA). The initiative, announced after a high-level meeting with UNICEF officials in Abuja, aims to reinforce the implementation and enforcement of child right policies across the country.
According to a statement by her media aide, Jonathan Eze, the Minister emphasized the urgent need for a specialized agency to oversee the execution of child protection initiatives. She explained that while the Ministry’s core mandate is to formulate and supervise policies, the CDPA will be responsible for implementing these policies, ensuring a more structured and effective approach to child welfare.
A key component of the initiative is the Child Rights Act Review, which will provide the necessary legal backing for the agency. The roadmap includes developing a zero draft, followed by extensive stakeholder consultations over the next two to three months. The final framework will be presented as an Executive Bill, with active collaboration from the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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The Minister stressed that Nigeria’s global standing is closely linked to its treatment of vulnerable children. “Every country is judged by how it protects its vulnerable groups, and our children are the most vulnerable. This agency is not optional; it is something we must do,” she stated.
To bolster legal enforcement, the Ministry plans to train 100 to 200 child protection lawyers at both the state and federal levels. These professionals will specialize in adoption cases, child protection, and welfare issues, ensuring that children’s rights are upheld in legal proceedings.
Furthermore, Nigeria will host the first-ever regional meeting for women and children in West Africa, reinforcing the country’s leadership in ECOWAS Women and Children Affairs.
The Minister also underscored the importance of birth registration in ensuring children’s access to welfare programs, including the Universal Cash Grant initiative. She emphasized the need for strict data access regulations to safeguard vulnerable children, particularly those affected by insurgency and displacement.
Nigeria faces serious child protection challenges, especially in the northeastern region, where children are at risk of violence, child marriage, and recruitment by non-state armed groups. The CDPA will strengthen community-based child protection systems and enhance collaboration with international partners like UNICEF to address these pressing issues.
UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Gilles Fagninou, commended the Minister’s commitment to advancing child welfare policies. He reaffirmed UNICEF’s support and collaboration in combating sexual and gender-based violence and strengthening child protection frameworks in Nigeria.
Other UNICEF officials present at the meeting included Cristian Mundiate (Country Representative), Ibrahim Sesay (Chief Child Protection), and Mona Aika (Child Protection Manager).
With this bold initiative, Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward creating a safer, more inclusive future for its children, ensuring that every child is protected, empowered, and given the opportunity to thrive.
