By Hameedah Oladimeji
The Kwara state government has inaugurated the Child Right Implementation Committee (CRIC) to ensure adequate protection of children rights in the state.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the event held in Ilorin advised the committee to fulfil its statutory mandate of coordinating the implementation of the Child Rights Law.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibo-Kawu ,the Governor said women empowerment, and the well-being of every child is the priority of government.
In her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Olaitan Buraimoh, said the state government is passionate about welfare of women and girl child .
Mrs. Buraimoh, explained that the Ministry of Women Affairs through its various programmes and activities has assisted the vulnerable women and girls positively.
She commended the Governor for leading the fight against sexual and gender based violence by establishing sexual assaults referral centres to provide support and care for survivors of sexual and gender based violence.
United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) Child Protection Specialist, Kaduna, Dr. Wilfred Mamah, expressed worry over high rate of Female Genital Mutilation, out of School children as well as increase in the number of children at foster centres in the state.
He urged the newly inaugurated committee members to network and protect the child rights by ensuring that all the problems identified are addressed urgently.
The committee which comprises members from different organisations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies including Ministry of Justice, Ministry of social development, Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, and other Civil Society Organisations.
