INTERNATIONAL NGO TARGETS 25,000 CHILDREN AFFECTED BY MOBILITY IN WEST AFRICA

 

She disclosed that,the project launch was  financed by European Union and being  implemented in five West African countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria. 

 

Osoba added further that,the intervention areas in Nigeria are Lagos and Abeokuta,explaining that the project aims to prevent risks linked to child mobility, support children on the move as well as improve their situation from their point of origin, transit and destination.

 

In the same vein,she stated that the project aims at ensuring that migrant children and those affected by migration enjoy equal rights as other children, live better and develop themselves based on their best interest‎, giving assistance to children who are victims of trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

 

She added that the launch and the various activities in the implementation plan of the project will also make the community and institutional environment more protective for children all along their migratory process.

 

‘It also targets major actors such as community actors like traditional rulers, trade associations, community associations, religious leaders, children, parents, families, actors that intervene in issues of child protection, local media, Child Protection Network and Non-Governmental Organisations’,she said.

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Osoba also added that,at the national level the project target to work with existing child protection networks including children and youth organisation, ministries in charge of child protection, political decision makers, civil society, while at regional level, the target is ECOWAS, regional inter-agency of child protection and working group.

 

The Regional Coordinator of the project, Alfred Santos in his remark said with its vision 2030, Terre des hommes has opted to focus its attention to impact three priority areas targeting vulnerabilities of children.

 

He disclosed that the overall plan of action is to ensure protection for children affected by migration, generally in large migratory flows, at the places of origin, transit and destination, children victims of labour exploitation and children in conflict with the law.

 

‘The launch of the CORAL project today, will consolidates on the existing institutional strength, improve the coordination and articulation between community and institutional child protection system’ he said.

 

Santos thanked the European Union for the financial support to the project, just as he noted that Terre des hommes has been working in the West Africa Sub region to address issues affecting children.

 

Similarly,National Coordinator of Association of Working Children and Youth Nigeria, a partner organisation, Mr Abiodun Akogbeto  said the implementation of the project will improve the protection of migrant and vulnerable children along Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

 

‘We therefore implore the institutional and community actors to give the project a priority, as this will help in giving the most needed hope to our children’, he emphasised.

 

The project was inaugurated by the representative of the Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development Mrs Sahid A. Modupeola. 

 

She expressed satisfaction about the project and promised the ministry’s support. 

 

Meanwhile, goodwill messages were taken from the Consul General of Ghana and Benin Republic, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP), the Nigeria Immigration Service Seme Command and the vice-chairman Lagos Island Local Council Development Area.