Abuja: The Federal Government says strengthening families has become critical to protecting children from emerging threats and improving welfare outcomes across the country amid evolving social and economic challenges. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Mrs. Esuabana Asanye, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said this at the National Policy Forum on Women, Children, and Families in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that the government is reviewing key child protection and family welfare policies to ensure they remain relevant and responsive to changing social realities nationwide. The exercise covers Nigeria’s outstanding periodic reports to international bodies and strategic policy documents affecting women, children, and other vulnerable groups across the country. She mentioned that the outcomes of the review would be implemented at state and local government levels to strengthen family support systems and improve protection for children. ‘The realities confronting children and families continue to evolve, making it necessary for policies and programmes to adapt accordingly,’ she said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, highlighted that sustainable child protection begins with stronger families and communities. Benjamins-Laniyi pointed out that child welfare issues now extend beyond legal and policy frameworks to include education, healthcare, nutrition, digital security, and social protection concerns. She warned that child trafficking has become one of the most lucrative forms of organized crime globally, requiring stronger collaboration among governments, communities, and development partners. ‘Children’s issues are no longer sectoral issues. They involve education, health, nutrition, digital security, and community protection,’ she said while advocating integrated child welfare interventions. ‘Child trafficking is one of the highest-gain crimes globally today, which is why governments must continue to strengthen social protection and child welfare systems,’ she added.
According to her, family-centered interventions remain essential in addressing vulnerabilities affecting children and other at-risk groups while promoting resilience, inclusion, and long-term social stability. She stressed that policy reforms and stronger social institutions are necessary to respond effectively to emerging threats and ensure children receive adequate care and protection.
Earlier, Co-Chairman of the National Child Rights Implementation Committee, Dr. Mac-John Nwobiala, stated that Nigeria must continually strengthen child protection systems to reflect changing realities. Nwobiala noted that existing frameworks, including the National Child Policy approved in 2007, require updating to address contemporary challenges affecting children and families nationwide. He emphasized the need for stronger safeguarding mechanisms in schools, improved access to education, and responsible use of digital platforms by children and young people. ‘Society is dynamic. A lot has changed and a lot is happening to our children. We need stronger systems to protect them and ensure their rights remain a national priority,’ he said.
Additionally, Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Caroline Dafur, remarked that the forum would assist states in improving interventions for vulnerable children nationwide. Dafur noted that particular attention is needed for children living in orphanages and displacement settings, where vulnerabilities often require specialized support and protection services. She expressed optimism that lessons from the forum would strengthen child welfare systems and support the reintegration of vulnerable children into communities across Nigeria.
The forum was organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to review Nigeria’s periodic reports to international bodies and validate strategic policy documents.