By Funmi Ajumobi

The Child Protection Network (CPN) in Lagos and Ogun states have been awarded a N50 million service provision grant to support efforts aimed at enhancing child protection for vulnerable children in both states.

The grant, which amounts to N25 million for each state, was presented yesterday at the SOS Children’s Village in Lagos.

In a statement, Eghosa Erhumwunse, the Country Director of SOS Children’s Villages, commended CPN for their pivotal role as guardians of child protection and their ongoing efforts to assist children across Nigeria.

The grant is expected to benefit 130,000 children, with 70,000 in Ogun State and 60,000 in Lagos State.

During the presentation, Erhumwunse outlined SOS’s expectations from CPN, emphasizing the importance of grassroots service provisions to address various child-related issues. He highlighted key areas such as gender-based violence, case management, community child protection committees, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and advocacy for family courts that handle child protection cases.

“We urge you to engage with communities, advocate for these children, and work towards changing harmful cultural practices,” he stated. “Awareness and sensitization campaigns are critical in ensuring the safety and protection of children’s lives.”

Erhumwunse also emphasized SOS’s zero-tolerance policy for fraud and called on CPN to strengthen its internal mechanisms to enhance the partnership. He reminded the teams that staff must adhere to strict procedures that prioritize transparency and accountability when working with children, ensuring that the one-year partnership is marked by rigorous monitoring and evaluation of all processes.

In his welcome address, Adelopo Ayodeji, Chief Programme Officer of SOS Lagos, expressed appreciation to CPN for their dedicated work in their communities. He viewed the grant as an opportunity for a results-oriented and impactful collaboration.

In response, Aderonke Oyelakin, Coordinator of CPN Lagos, thanked SOS management for their continued support and expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership. She assured that CPN would fully leverage this opportunity to safeguard every child in Lagos, while Adedamola Lapite, Coordinator of CPN Ogun, also pledged to uphold the trust placed in them.