Commissioner warns against child abuse

Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Mrs Cecilia Dada has cautioned Lagosians against child abuse.

She spoke at the annual Child Right Day, a webinar organised by The Young Muslim Association (TYMa) to mark the United Nations World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

Mrs Dada urged parents to train their children with love. This, she said, will make them great in the society.

She highlighted four ways of child abuse as physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Her counterpart in Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr Lola Akande said: “Children represent the future of our nation, and it is our collective duty to protect this future and ensure it is bright. Children have a right to life, education, shelter, adequate nutrition and a good environment to thrive.”

National Coordinator Amb Musliudeen Owolewa called on stakeholders to join the annual campaign to secure the future of the world.

The Chief Discussant, Miss Saheedah Adetayo, said bullying was part of child abuse.

She said: “Bullying, according to UNICEF, is the act of inflicting pain either through physical harm, hurtful words or behaviour which is done repeatedly.”

According to her, statistics shows that 50 per cent of children are bullied in primary and secondary schools.

She advised parents to be closer to their wards for proper observation of any act of bullying.