07/03/24
PRESS RELEASE
ELIZA DD
Teachers Concealing Sexual Offences is now an Offence in Lagos State.
This was made known when a few days ago when The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency organized a two-day training for 105 school counsellors on safeguarding and child protection on the 5th and 6th of March 2024 at the LCCI conference center at Ikeja to ensure capacity building of all relevant stakeholders in the fight to end SGBV.
The Executive Secretary DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said at the opening that 105 school Guidance Counsellors were drawn from primary and secondary schools within Ikeja, Mushin and Oshodi/Isolo zones of Lagos State.
Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi stated that schools do not just serve as centers of academic learning but should also be safe havens, where children feel secure, safe and protected.
She noted that the influence of counselors extends far beyond the classroom as it shapes the emotional and psychological landscape of the next generation.
She urged the counselors to remain steadfast in their commitment in safeguarding the dignity and rights of every child.
The TG/PS of Education District VI, Dr. Yusuf Adejoke Sherifaah who was represented by the Head of the Counselling Unit, Mrs. Anike Bola-Lawal while giving her goodwill message told the participants that the constant training and retraining of the Guidance Counsellors was helpful in keeping them abreast of societal expectations to make a better society for all.
She stressed that the training would be rewarding as it cuts across the three zones of the district and lauded the Agency’s efforts in the quest for an SGBV free society
Representative from the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Ibrahim Jenmi while speaking on behalf of the SUBEB Chairman, thanked the Agency for the continuous training of guidance counsellors and hoped for the continued collaboration of the Agency and SUBEB.
At the training, Mr. Taiwo Akinlami, a Safeguarding and Child Protection expert spoke on child rights and concepts which includes their rights to life, developmental rights, participation rights and protection rights. He further spoke about the societal and cultural perception of child abuse and examined the different forms of child abuse and how to detect signs of abuse.
Mr. Jubril Yakubu of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development gave an overview of the Lagos State Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection, highlighting the roles of a designated safeguarding officer and the multi-agency response to safeguarding and child protection. He ended his session by informing the participants about the mandated reporting policy in Lagos State, urging them to say something whenever they see something.
Chief of Operations at Cece Yara; Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode who spoke on responding to disclosures
of child abuse; reasons disclosure of abuse is delayed and how children disclose abuse. She ended her session by educating the counsellors on how to handle disclosures made by children.
On Day 2 of the training, the Executive Secretary, DSVA; Mrs. Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi facilitated a session on the Legal Framework for child abuse in Lagos State citing the different laws; including the Child Rights Law of Lagos State, 2007, The Domestic and Sexual PA Violence Agency Law, Protection Against Domestic Violence, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State alongside the punishment provided for the offences.
In a session facilitated by the HOD Case Management, DSVA; Mrs. Tumininu Oni, the Counsellors were engaged in different case scenarios on child abuse, safeguarding, child protection and reporting protocols.
The Counsellors were presented with their certificate of participation and they were encouraged to see themselves as mandated reporters, if they see something, they should say something and most importantly, do something.
Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni
LAGOS DSVA
7/3/2024
Dara Network TV 