For three years, stakeholders, child rights advocates, civil society organizations, development partners, and concerned citizens have watched with growing concern as the Kano State Child Protection Committee remains uninaugurated.
What was expected to be a critical mechanism for coordinating child protection efforts across the state has remained dormant, leaving many children vulnerable and many stakeholders anxious about the future of child protection in Kano State.
The delay has not only created institutional gaps but has also generated frustration among organizations and individuals who have dedicated their time and resources to promoting the rights and welfare of children. During these three years, cases of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, child labour, trafficking, street begging, violence, and other forms of child rights violations have continued to challenge communities across the state.
The Child Protection Committee was designed to serve as a multi-sectoral platform bringing together government ministries, law enforcement agencies, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts aimed at protecting children. Such a committee is essential for ensuring effective collaboration, case management, referral services, policy implementation, monitoring, and accountability.
The absence of this important structure has created uncertainty regarding the coordination of child protection interventions. While individual institutions continue to perform their responsibilities, the lack of a formal coordinating body weakens collective action and limits the effectiveness of responses to child protection concerns.
For many child rights advocates, the past three years have been years of tears and anxiety. Tears for the children whose voices often go unheard and whose rights continue to be violated. Anxiety because every delay in strengthening child protection systems increases the risks faced by vulnerable children and undermines efforts to build a safer and more protective environment for them.
Children represent the future of Kano State. Their safety, well-being, education, and development should remain among the highest priorities of government and society. Protecting children is not merely a social responsibility; it is a legal obligation and an investment in sustainable development, peace, and prosperity.
The continued non-inauguration of the State Child Protection Committee sends an unfortunate message that child protection may not be receiving the urgency it deserves. While there may be administrative and institutional reasons for the delay, the impact on child protection coordination cannot be ignored.
As stakeholders continue to advocate for stronger child protection systems, there is an urgent need for the Kano State Government to demonstrate renewed commitment by immediately inaugurating and operationalizing the State Child Protection Committee. Doing so would strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, improve service delivery, enhance accountability, and provide a more effective framework for addressing the challenges facing children across the state.
Three years is a long time in the life of a child. A child who was five years old when this process began is now eight. A child who was ten is now thirteen. Childhood does not wait for administrative processes, and children cannot afford prolonged delays in the systems designed to protect them.
The time has come to move from promises to action. The children of Kano State deserve a functioning child protection system, and the inauguration of the State Child Protection Committee is a necessary step toward achieving that goal.
Buhari Abubakar USMAN
WAN Network Coordinator
Child Protection Specialist
buharibichi2000@gmail.com
08164549176
