A Foundation, Positive Chants for Nigeria, on Tuesday expressed its readiness to engage stakeholders on the need to address issues of child abuse, as well as to provide protection and support for children across Edo State, demonstrating its commitment to the well-being and safety of Nigerian children.
The country’s Director, Positive Chants for Nigeria, Obeahon Precious, told reporters in Benin, saying, “we want to be able to raise children up so that they become active members of the society.”
She stated that at least 65 non-governmental organisations, trained and equipped to carry out the task, would be able to identify children experiencing various forms of abuse and offer assistance.
“We have children who no longer feel safe at home because they are either violated, lack enough food, witness parental separation, have a family member in correctional centres—as we call them—or simply feel unloved and hungry.
“These are common issues faced by children in our society, but if we neglect their needs, they may grow into adults who feel a loss of belonging.
“Therefore, we want to empower children to become active members of society; however, before they can engage with society, they must be active in their own lives. Adversity often isolates children from the experiences they should be having.
“We aim to create a safe space where children have trusted individuals to talk to—not just their parents, but teachers and community members who can support them.”
Precious added, “We should not turn a blind eye when we see a child lacking enough to eat. If parents are food-insecure, there should be someone willing to help. The responsibility should not rest solely on parents but on society and the community.”
Further, she emphasised that building a progressive Nigeria requires all NGOs to collaborate and work in synergy, rather than operating in isolation, to effectively care for Nigerian children.
Regarding the event, she explained it aims to build capacity among 65 NGOs and CBOs in Benin and Nigeria’s South-South region to effectively incorporate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), UNICEF’s thematic focus areas, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their programmes.
She highlighted that the training would also enhance organisations’ ability to implement data-driven Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) strategies, foster collaboration, and maximise impact.
Precious noted that by the end of the training, participants would understand ACEs, PCEs, and their long-term effects, map their organisation’s activities to UNICEF’s thematic areas and relevant SDGs, and develop trauma-informed, resilience-building, SDG-aligned programmes.
She concluded that they would also employ practical MEAL tools and frameworks for evidence-based programming, utilise digital storytelling for community visibility, and promote policy advocacy.
