WaterAid Nigeria trains members of sixteen communities in Ikorodu as Community Safeguarding Champions to report abuse against vulnerable people

Yemisi Dada

In a bid to protect the right of children and other vulnerable people at the grassroots, over forty community leaders in Ikorodu North LCDA have been trained as Community Safeguarding Champions.

The training organized by an NGO, WaterAid Nigeria was aimed at educating
partners on WaterAid’s safeguarding guidelines, how to apply the guidelines in the work they do and the different reporting mechanisms for safeguarding concerns of children below the age of eighteen.

The Training of Community Safeguarding Champions by WaterAid Nigeria was supported by Kimberly Clark, Microsoft, PepsiCo Foundation, Cummins and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

WaterAid Nigeria Safeguarding focal person in Lagos, Mrs Grace Uwadiale, maintained that children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence which include physical abuse, Emotional abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.

According to her, WaterAid has zero tolerance to inaction against safeguarding issues as it relates to children and advised victims to always speak out to find psychosocial support while bringing culprit to face the wrath of the law.

“Safeguarding is not only about children
It’s protection of children and vulnerable adults ie women, people with disabilities, the poor, marginalized.
The champions are to create awareness and sensitize their communities in safeguarding and are to report incidences within 24hrs. They report to the various reporting mechanisms within their communities and escalated, if it cannot be handled at the community level”

Speaking of behalf of the participants, Chairman Community Development Committee, Ikorodu North LCDA, Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, commended WaterAid Nigeria for investing in building human capacity in rural areas with a promise to ensure that the knowledge gained would be cascaded to others in schools, meetings, worship centers, naming ceremony among others.

Prince Ogunbanwo urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant and monitor activities in their homes, especially as it pertains to the children to avoid issues of sexual harassment, intimidation and violence.