Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, has launched a comprehensive training programme for community-based Child Protection Structure Representatives across the state’s 17 local government areas to combat child abuse and gender-based violence (GBV).
The initiative, jointly coordinated by the Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development and UNICEF, is aimed at achieving zero tolerance for child abuse in the state.
The training commenced with the induction of 106 pilot child protection volunteers from three local government areas—Nkanu East, Udenu, and Udi—at the Ashishi Owo Civic Center in Nkanu East LGA.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkechi Beatrice Ewo, said the initiative was part of efforts to build a robust child protection system at the grassroots.
“The prevalence of violence against children is on the rise. Every day, children are molested, subjected to child labour, and suffer various forms of abuse. If this trend is not curbed, the future of our children—our leaders of tomorrow—will be bleak,” she warned.
Enih noted that the ministry has a statutory mandate to protect children and welcomed UNICEF’s intervention, which was also endorsed by Governor Peter Mbah.
“The training will enhance the capacity of volunteers and help strengthen child protection structures in Enugu State as we strive toward zero tolerance for child abuse,” she added.
Mr. Victor Atuchukwu, Child Protection Specialist at the UNICEF Enugu Field Office, said the training was designed to strengthen the community-based social service workforce through capacity building.
“We are beginning with the training of 160 representatives drawn from 106 communities—35 from Nkanu East, 30 from Udenu, and 40 from Udi,” he explained. “The training is organized in clusters of up to 50 participants per session.”
Atuchukwu emphasized that the programme aims to integrate child protection into community-level practices, focusing on prevention, response, and service delivery. Volunteers are being equipped to recognize, report, and respond to cases of abuse and harmful traditional practices.
“At the end of the five-day training, we expect that community stakeholders—including vigilante members, market leaders, women leaders, traditional rulers, and religious figures—will be able to identify signs of child abuse and take action rather than remain silent,” he said.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to institutionalize child protection systems in Enugu State and ensure safer communities for children.
