By Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
A consortium of civil society organisations has intensified efforts to promote the effective implementation of the Child Protection Law in Borno State and other parts of Nigeria through a European Union funded project aimed at strengthening child care and protection systems.
The one day advocacy training was organised by SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Jireh Doo Foundation and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, under the Strengthening Child Care and Protection System project. The programme brought together members of the Borno State Child Protection Network and other civil society organisations at Alanguwuro Hall, Grand Pinnacle Hotel, Maiduguri.
peaking on behalf of the CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, the Senior Finance and Administration Officer, Mohammed Murtala, said the initiative was designed to ensure that the recently enacted Child Protection Law in Borno State translates into tangible protection for vulnerable children.
He explained that the consortium was implementing the project across Borno, Edo and Plateau states, noting that while Borno has a new law, the other two states operate older child protection laws that are currently undergoing review.
According to Murtala, the focus in Borno is on child protection in the areas of health, education and social welfare, in line with cultural and religious values.
He revealed that the consortium is working closely with the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Justice, Health, Education and Women Affairs to ensure coordinated and effective implementation of the law.
Murtala said civil society organisations play a critical watchdog role in monitoring the child protection system and advocating for continuous improvement.
He added that participants were trained on child advocacy, budget tracking and engagement with relevant government institutions.
The CISLAC official disclosed that the project, which commenced in July 2025, will run for 36 months, and that the consortium would also support the State Child Protection Committee to hold regular meetings and effectively carry out its statutory responsibilities.
He stressed that media engagement was a key component of the project, noting that journalists would soon be trained to help raise public awareness about the law and its importance.
According to him, lack of public awareness remains a major barrier to implementation, as citizens cannot demand protection under a law they do not know exists.
On challenges affecting children’s access to quality education and healthcare, Murtala identified poverty, weak public services and limited parental capacity as major factors, calling for stronger government intervention and sustained civil society collaboration.
One of the participants, Rukaiya Idris, a teacher and school administrator, described the training as timely and enlightening.
She said children in Borno State were among the worst affected by insurgency, with many exposed to abuse, neglect and disruption of education.
Rukaiya noted that the training helped teachers, parents and administrators understand how the law empowers them to protect children in their daily responsibilities.
She added that Islamic principles and statutory child protection laws were not in conflict but were complementary in safeguarding children.
The Secretary General of the Borno State Child Protection Network, Wujema Zana Kambar, said the training would strengthen grassroots advocacy across the state.
He described children as the most vulnerable members of society who required special care and legal protection.
Kambar explained that while= child protection focuses on safeguarding children from harm, child rights provide the legal framework that makes such protection enforceable.
He said the passage of the Child Protection Law in Borno was particularly important because of the impact of insurgency on children.
He stressed that the major takeaway from the training was the commitment of participants to take awareness campaigns to rural communities where knowledge of the law remains very low.
He acknowledged that religious and cultural concerns such as early marriage and inheritance had previously generated debate around the law, but noted that these issues were addressed through consultations with Islamic scholars, religious and traditional leaders.
According to him, the consultations ensured that the law respects religious principles while still protecting children, adding that the process has now become smoother and more widely accepted across communities.
The organisers expressed confidence that the training would contribute to stronger coordination among stakeholders and significantly improve the protection and welfare of children in Borno State and beyond.
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