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Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reiterated commitment to the education, health and protection of adolescent children in the state.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made the call while declaring open, a media hangout, capacity building training, and policy advocacy engagement programme organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kwara Council in partnership with Chidimma and Havilah Foundation.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Social Development, Dr Mariam Nnafatima Imam, decried all form of violence against adolescent girl child, and called for improved collaboration among parents and stakeholders to safeguard the lives of adolescent girls across the country.
He charged parents and care givers to always give top priority to the physical and emotional need of their children.
In a lecture, the former Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in Kwara State, Alhaji Hameed Adio appealed to parents and other critical stakeholders to restore the lost glory of African family value with a view to nurturing younger generation through communal mentorship.
Alhaji Hameed Adio, while reflecting on the “Role of the Media in Safeguarding and Protecting the Adolescents in the society”, charged media professionals to beam their basic functions in creating maximum awareness on child rights, protection and security in the society.
Also speaking at the workshop, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare, called for national behavioural change strategies and citizen engagement with adolescent, and warned young people against thuggery and drug abuse.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Kwara NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ahmed Lanre Abdullateef gave the assurance that members of the Union would give prominence to gender-sensitive reporting for the well-being and protection of the adolescent children.
Comrade Ahmed Abdullateef commended Chidimma and Havilah Foundation for the advocacy towards effective education, health and protection of the adolescent girls in the State.
The Chief Executive Officer, Chidimmah and Havilah Foundation, Miss Adebanke Havilah reiterated improved commitment to the well being of the adolescent and girl child rights as well as their protection.
Media professionals, representatives of security agencies, traditional heads, civil society actors, and policy makers at the forum called for accountability frameworks for a safer, healthier, and more equitable society for adolescents in Nigeria.
By Abdullah Ahmed
