The Zamfara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with security agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen child protection and ensure the strict enforcement of the Zamfara State Child Protection Law, 2022, against anyone found violating the rights of children.
The commitment was made by the Overseeing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaji Nasiru Galadima Kaura, at the closing ceremony of a four-day capacity-building training for Community-Based Child Protection Structures (CBCPS).
A statement signed by the Ministry’s Information Officer, Suleiman Aliyu Gusau, said the training was organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, with technical and financial support from UNICEF. The programme was attended by the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP A. M. Bello.
The training was facilitated by master trainers from Save the Children International (SCI), NADA, Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), and the Centre for Supporting Vulnerable Households, Women and Children (CESVHOC Initiative), with support from civil society organisations.
Held from Tuesday to Friday, the training covered Gummi, Bukkuyum, Talata Mafara and Maru Local Government Areas. Participants included five representatives from each ward, drawn from the Child Protection Surveillance Committees (CPSC) and Ward Child Protection Committees (WCPC).
The participants were equipped with skills to strengthen the prevention, identification, reporting, case management, counselling, response and referral of child protection and gender-based violence cases at the grassroots level.
Represented by the Director of Child Protection and Development, Hajiya Farida Abdulrazaq Adamu, Kaura said strengthening Community-Based Child Protection Structures remains one of the most effective ways of preventing violence, promoting family well-being and ensuring every child grows up in a safe and secure environment.
He reiterated that the Zamfara State Government remains committed to eliminating all forms of violence against children through the effective implementation of the Child Protection Law, 2022.
“The Government has demonstrated strong commitment to implementing the Child Protection Law, which guarantees a safer environment for our children. However, the success of the law depends on the active participation of communities in reporting cases of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, sexual violence and other forms of abuse through the Community-Based Child Protection Structures established across the state’s 147 wards,” he said.
He urged residents to promptly report cases to the appropriate authorities to ensure offenders are brought to justice.
Kaura also charged members of the Community-Based Child Protection Structures to intensify public awareness and community sensitisation campaigns while working closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, schools and security agencies to prevent violence before it occurs.
Speaking at the event, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP A. M. Bello, reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to protecting children and promoting family welfare across the state.
He cited Germany’s post-war recovery as an example of how investment in family welfare contributes to national development, stressing that strong families remain the foundation of a peaceful and prosperous society.
“I will direct all Divisional Police Officers across the 14 Local Government Areas to work closely with the Community-Based Child Protection Structures by assigning officers to collaborate with them from time to time in order to achieve our shared goal of protecting children, preventing violence and strengthening family well-being in Zamfara State,” the police commissioner said.
The ministry thanked UNICEF, the participating development partners, civil society organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders for their continued support in strengthening community-based child protection systems across Zamfara State.
