The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, has inaugurated a Child and Youth Ombuds Office at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja to provide children and young people with a safe, child-friendly platform to seek justice and report rights violations.

Speaking at the inauguration yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC said the office represents a major step towards strengthening child protection and ensuring that every child has access to justice, protection and a platform where their voices can be heard.

He described the initiative as a reflection of the shared commitment of the Commission and its partners to promote and protect the rights of every child in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary commended SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria and the European Union for supporting the establishment of the office, noting that their partnership demonstrates the importance of collaboration in building stronger child protection systems.

According to him, the Child and Youth Ombuds Office will provide a child-friendly mechanism for receiving complaints, promoting accountability and ensuring that cases involving children are handled with dignity and professionalism.

He disclosed that the Commission and its partners would develop operational guidelines for the office, including terms of reference, complaint intake procedures, referral mechanisms and feedback protocols to ensure effective service delivery.

The NHRC boss also called on stakeholders to sustain their collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s child protection system and safeguarding the rights and dignity of every child.

Also speaking, the Representative of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria Mrs Victoria Akoji Omale,described the inauguration as the launch of a trusted, child-friendly mechanism that will enable children and young people to safely report abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence and other violations of their rights.

She said effective child protection requires strong institutions, accountable systems and accessible services that children and families can trust, adding that the Ombuds Office would strengthen Nigeria’s child protection framework by providing a safe pathway for reporting abuse without fear.

According to her the initiative is part of the European Union-funded Strengthening Child Care and Protection Systems in Nigeria project being implemented by SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Jireh Do Foundation.

She disclosed plans to establish similar Child and Youth Ombuds Offices across the project’s implementing states to bring child-friendly protection services closer to communities.

Justice Peters Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory described the Child and Youth Ombudsman Office as an important institutional innovation capable of improving child protection across the country.

Narrating how a case of sexual molestation involving 3 daughters and their fathers was withdrawn due to lack of adequate child protection care for the children, Justice kemeke emphasized the need for government to adequately fund child protection in the country .

The Judge however stressed that the ombuds must ensure that children’s complaints are heard promptly, institutions are accountable, and that no child is denied justice or protection because of administrative delays, lack of coordination, or inadequate funding.

The judge appealed to governments, development partners and civil society organisations to sustain financial and institutional support for the initiative.

“With sustained commitment and collaboration, the Child and Youth Ombudsman Office can become a strong platform for protecting the rights, welfare, and dignity of every child in Nigeria.” he stated.

Also speaking, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Principal State Counsel Ememobong Edeabasi Sunday, described the inauguration as a significant development in advancing child rights protection and participation in Nigeria. She reiterated the commitment of the ministry to improving access to justice for children.