Lagos targets 1,500 children in child protection campaign

The Lagos State Government has launched a five-day child protection campaign targeting more than 1,500 children across the state’s six education districts.

Led by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, the campaign is part of the 2026 Safeguarding and Child Protection Week, themed “My Silence Ends Here.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the agency’s Public Affairs Unit Director, Onadipe Opebere, said the weeklong exercise will run until Friday.

Speaking at the kickoff of the campaign on Monday, Executive Secretary, DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said children needed environments in which they could report abuse without fear and where adults and institutions would take responsible action in addressing the complaints.

She stressed that safeguarding could not be achieved merely by telling children to speak up, but also required adults and institutions to listen and act when children disclosed concerns.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Universal Education Board, Hakeem Shittu, said schools had a particularly important role in protecting children.

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He urged education stakeholders to remain vigilant and responsive to signs and reports of abuse by pupils and students.

Shittu also called for stronger cooperation between schools, families, communities and relevant government institutions to create safer learning environments.

In her keynote address, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described child protection as a collective responsibility involving government, schools, parents, communities and other stakeholders.

She urged children to report situations in which they felt unsafe.

The campaign will see students and stakeholders across the districts of the state participate in sessions focused on child safety, protection, awareness and speaking out against abuse.