Stakeholders in child safety have advocated the need to safeguard the rights of children at correctional facilities in Lagos State.
They made this call at the formal launch and presentation of a report on the study of training and treatment of children in Lagos State’s approved children’s institutions.
The report, which was presented by the Founder and Executive Director, Voice of The Child Law Centre, Prof. Iyabode Ogunniran, focused on the need for positive growth and societal integration of children at various correctional centres in Lagos.
Ogunniran recommended that parents should be informed and encouraged not to abandon their children at correctional centres.
“Regular visitations by parents and other relatives will help to bridge the gap on home training, which is also necessary for their restoration and full development,” she said.
She added that the Ministry of Justice, especially the Director of Public Prosecution’s office (DPP), must accord higher priority to child offenders’ files and treat such with dispatch for overall quick dispensation of justice.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and private law firms should offer pro-bono legal services to complement the current efforts of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) for efficient access to justice,” Ogunniran added.
Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, who was represented by Viavonu Folorunsho, said the ministry is working hard to ensure the positive upbringing of children at correctional facilities and the protection of their rights.
“Some of these findings in the report are not strange to the ministry because we also have a research and development unit. Last Thursday, the director of social welfare in a meeting formed a committee to look at different categories of children that have been brought together in our facilities.
“We are also passionate about addressing the issues (of child rights). Despite our challenges, we have recorded so many success stories. Some children are (now) in federal universities on scholarships. We have those who have graduated, even with first class, and some of them are now in the Lagos State civil service,” he said.
Representative of UNICEF Child Protection Unit, Dennis Onoise, disclosed that the organisation has plans to support the correctional facilities that harbour children.
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