Don urges establishment of family court in Borno

Prof. Ibrahim Ahmad of Faculty of Law, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), has called for the establishment of a Family Court in Borno to strengthen the implementation of the state’s Child Protection Law.

Ahmad made the call on Wednesday in Maiduguri during a sensitisation workshop for relevant stakeholders on child protection in the state.

The workshop was organised by a consortium comprising the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria and the Jire Do Foundation under the European Union-funded Strengthening Child Care and Protection Systems in Nigeria project.

The don said the proposed Family Court would provide the institutional framework needed to ensure effective enforcement of child protection laws and improve access to justice for vulnerable children.

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According to him, children in Borno continue to face multiple threats arising from the prolonged insurgency, including armed conflict, displacement, child trafficking, child labour, sexual abuse, street begging, drug abuse and other forms of violence.

He urged key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Child Protection Implementation Committee, the State House of Assembly, traditional and religious institutions, as well as Civil Society Organisations to work towards safeguarding children’s rights.

He added that the workshop was designed to help participants understand their respective responsibilities, strengthen institutional coordination, promote collaboration and develop practical strategies for the implementation of the Child Protection Law.

Solomon Adoga, Senior Programme Manager of CISLAC, called on stakeholders and the public to intensify efforts to combat the abuse of women and children.

He commended Borno Government for reviewing its Child Protection Law but stressed that legislative reforms must be accompanied by effective enforcement, sustained public awareness and stronger collaboration to ensure meaningful protection for every child across the state.

 

(NAN)