The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu has pledged support for the implementation of the 2023 Child Protection Rights Law across the eighteen local government areas.
She gave the assurance during an interaction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Child Protection Programme Coordinator, Mr. Victor Chima, and Child Protection Network (CPN) team lead, Dr. Kebe Ikpi in her office.
The wife of the Governor noted that protecting children was a core objective of the non-profit organisation “Humanity in Totality”, which focuses on empowering women particularly widows and children in rural communities.
She explained, “My office is working with the state government to cater to the needs of rural women, the girl child, young school leavers, and elderly as well as People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) through various social intervention programmes.
“The incidences of labelling children ‘witches’, child abandonment and abuse are unacceptable. As responsible people, we must protect our children. With my organisation, I am prepared to join your agencies and advocate for the full implementation of the recently passed Child Protection Rights Law in the entire Cross River State.”
Mrs Otu said; “We must also collaborate to create awareness on the provisions of the law in all our communities. We must get the collective buy-in of stakeholders at the grassroots level and in schools. It is high time we take the bold step as a state to protect our children from all forms of abuse.”
Mrs Otu was represented by the Special Adviser Projects, Programmes and Events, Dr. Inyang Asibong.
Community Expansion
The UNICEF Child Protection Programme Coordinator, Mr. Chima stressed the need for people in the communities to be involved through intensive and expansive awareness campaigns.
Chima said, “We are concerned with the children especially those in rural areas, who may be going through abuses of any kind. To achieve our collective objective, there is a need for expansion of community structures to tackle child protection challenges at the grassroots.”
Also, the Director, Child Protection Network, Dr. Ikpi noted that implementing the law would “provide the much-needed framework for protecting children’s rights in the state.”
The Senior Special Adviser on Administration in the office of the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Comfort Oko commended UNICEF and CPN for choosing to partner with Mrs. Otu’s vision for improved care to humanity including children in Cross River State.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
