As we commemorate Children’s Day 2025, the Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) commends the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled for organizing a timely and impactful workshop on child protection.
Held on May 12th and 13th, the workshop convened community leaders and civil society organizations to promote awareness and safeguard the rights and welfare of children across Kano State.
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This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive AdministratorCommunity Health and Research Initiative (CHR)Nafisa Shehu Ibrahim
According to her, this initiative is especially significant in light of pressing concerns highlighted earlier this year.
The executive director pooted out that, on January 24, 2025, The Punch newspaper published a report titled “UNICEF Decries High Out-of-School Children Rate in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina”.
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Nafisa stressed that, in it, Mr. Rahama Farah, Chief of UNICEF’s Field Office in Kano, warned of an alarming rate of out-of-school children in these states.
“He cited data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey showing that 32% of primary school-aged children in Kano are not attending school. Nationally, Nigeria has approximately 10.2 million out-of-school children at the primary level of which Kano alone accounts for nearly one million (989,234), alongside 536,112 in Katsina and 337,861 in Jigawa”
She emphasized that, these sobering statistics highlights the urgent need to enforce and expand implementation of the Child Protection Law.
“The law criminalizes the denial of education, child hawking, begging, and exploitative labor. It also prohibits sexual abuse, excessive punishment, domestic servitude, and the use of children in political activities. Critically, it guarantees the right to free and compulsory basic and secondary education for every child”
The executive director noted that, beyond education, the law affirms children’s rights to life, health, and overall well-being. It mandates access to quality healthcare, a safe and supportive environment, and age-appropriate participation in recreational and social life.
“It also ensures every child’s right to love, care, and protection from parents or guardians”
CHR urges the Ministry to build on the workshop’s momentum by transforming its recommendations into concrete policies and actions. A vital component of this effort is public awareness ensuring that parents, guardians, communities, and institutions across Kano State are well-informed and equipped to uphold and defend children’s rights.
“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, and working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that every child in Kano State is protected, nurtured, and given the opportunity to flourish”