Daisy Osunde director of media, Edo Min. of Women Affairs and Social Dev. reading the welcome address of the Commissioner, Hon. Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah at a two-day technical meeting to review and adopt the updated State Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy in Benin-City, the State
From our news desk, Benin
In a significant step towards child protection, the Edo State Government has validated the State Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
The policy; is a framework designed to address emerging threats to children, including risks associated with rapid technological advancements and artificial intelligence (AI).
The director of media in the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Daisy Osunde made this known in a press release circulated amongst journalists in Benin, weekend.
The validation of the policy, was at a two-day technical meeting to review and adopt the updated policy, in Benin-City, the State Capital, it was said.
Key stakeholders from government ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, child protection actors and other relevant institutions were said to have been in attendance.
The exercise was supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Phase II Programme, an initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the International IDEA, as part of efforts to strengthen child protection systems in Edo State.
In her welcome address, the Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Media, Daisy Osunde, reaffirmed commitment of the Edo State Government to protect the rights, dignity and welfare of every child.
The Commissioner noted that the review of the policy reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that child protection mechanisms remain relevant, and responsive to contemporary realities, particularly the challenges posed by digital technology and online platforms.
Speaking during the technical session, the Edo State Programme Officer of RoLAC and Technical Facilitator, Imonitie Omokhodion, explained that the review became necessary, to address gaps identified in the 2015 Child Protection Policy and to align the framework with present-day realities.
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According to him, the updated 2026 version introduces significant improvements, including provisions that respond to the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence, while also providing safeguards against modern threats facing children.
“We have reviewed the document to a 2026 version that has provided a lot of improvement to the 2015 version, particularly in terms of the rise in technology, which we didn’t have in 2015, artificial intelligence, and the increasing risks these things pose against children,” he was quoted to have said.
Omokhodion further explained that the revised policy establishes minimum standards that every child-facing institution in Edo State must comply with, ensuring uniformity in child protection practices across public and private institutions.
He emphasized that effective implementation of the policy requires a collective commitment from all sectors of the society, rather than placing the responsibility solely on the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development or local government child protection structures.
“Implementation is a whole-of-society affair. Our school principals, heads of child-facing institutions and every stakeholder now have a role to play.
“The reviewed document sets a baseline, a minimum standard that child-facing institutions within the State must comply with,” he stated.
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Participants at the meeting subjected the draft policy and its accompanying schedules to extensive scrutiny, making recommendations aimed at strengthening the document and ensuring it adequately addresses current child protection challenges.
The validation exercise concluded with stakeholders reaching a consensus on the final amendments and formally adopting the updated ‘Edo State Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.’
The validated policy is expected to provide a more comprehensive framework for preventing abuse, exploitation, neglect and other forms of violence against children, while promoting safer environments for children in homes, schools, communities and all child-facing institutions across Edo State.
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