The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, in partnership with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, has urged content creators, skit makers, influencers and digital media producers to safeguard children’s rights in both online and offline content.

The government said the growing influence of digital platforms has created opportunities for creativity, storytelling and economic empowerment, but has also raised concerns about how children are portrayed and involved in content that could harm their dignity, safety and overall well-being.

It stressed that children are a vulnerable group and must be protected from exposure to abuse, exploitation and inappropriate situations, whether intentional or unintended.

Executive Secretary of the agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said: “Involving minors in content that depicts abuse, sexual themes, harmful stereotypes, or unsafe scenarios is not only unethical but also contrary to existing laws designed to protect children. Content creators are encouraged to be mindful of the long-term psychological, emotional, and social impact such content may have on children, as well as the legal implications for adults responsible for producing or sharing it.

“Under Nigerian law, creating, distributing, or profiting from content that sexualises, abuses, or endangers minors constitutes a criminal offence.

“These acts violate Section 25(1) of the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State (2015), which prohibits exploitative labour of a child, and Section 26, which prohibits child abuse, as well as Sections 135–139 and 141 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015), which address sexual offences against children.”