Child Protection Nigeria Project #38820

Help to Stop Child Sexual Abuse in Nigeria

by The Registered Trustees of the Cece Yara Foundation

Help to Stop Child Sexual Abuse in Nigeria

Project Report | Sep 25, 2020
Creating a Happy Childhood for The Nigerian Child

By Grace Ketefe | Executive Director

We made Impact despite the Pandemic

Cece Yara Foundation Report for May-August 2020

We made Impact despite the Pandemic

This reporting period was plagued by total to partial and regulated lock-down as a result of the COVID 19 Pandemic, we recorded an increase in the number of child sexual and physical abuse reported to the Foundation as a result of the lockdown measures imposed by the authorities. An average of 15 child abuse cases was reported per week as against the 2 to 3 cases reported pre-COVID 19. The reason for this could not be far- fetched as children were locked-in with abusers and there is limited access to schools and other safe places.

Nevertheless, the challenges imposed by the COVID 19 could not stop our team from providing a one- stop-response to cases of child sexual abuse, though, at the beginning of the pandemic, we struggled to maintain our standard response to children who had been sexually abused. We had to work with government agencies and partners in other states to try and support the children. Thankfully we have re-established our standard response though with much higher costs. We needed to invest in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) materials to cover our three locations – Gbagada and Ajeromi in Lagos and FCT Abuja Federal Capital Territory. Also, we purchased full PPE outfits for extreme and risky rescues. We are grateful to our partners who worked with us during the strict lockdown, ensuring that children were adequately protected.

This period also witnessed a fostered collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations in ensuring that the rights of children are adequately protected despite the restriction/lockdown. The Foundation worked with the Ministry of Education, Office of the Public Defender, Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team-(DSVRT), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and other Civil Society Organizations (CSO) to ensure effective implementation of Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy in Lagos State. We built the capacity of over 1000 school teachers in Lagos State on effective implementation of the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Cece Yara Awareness Prevention Program

Before the pandemic, we had several prevention and awareness programs targeting professionals, adults, community stakeholders, and children that were being taught physically. Our children’s programs have been taught to over 30,000 children in schools, while Cece Yara adult prevention awareness training for adults has trained over 3000 change-makers in communities. The Foundation, due to shut down of schools, restriction of movement, and social distancing measures put in place, had to remodel the majority of its physical programs to virtual ones. Our first online program in commemoration of the International Children Day’s held on the 27^th of May 2020 while our Adult Webinar on Sex Education which held on the 16th of June 2020, equipped parents and educators to engage and empower their children on sexuality so that the children could develop knowledge and skills to interact positively. We are currently developing programs that will work within the pandemic guidelines for communities that do not have access to the internet and phones.

Underlisted is highlights of some of the engagements:

Empowering Teachers at the Corona Schools’ Trust Fund - On June 19, 2020, the Corona Schools’ Trust Fund partnered with the Cece Yara Foundation to virtually educate teachers, parents, and caregivers on protecting children from Sexual Predators. Over 100 participants were equipped with the skill to on how to prevent Child Sexual Abuse; how to make choices and establish safety plans and how to respond appropriately to disclosures of CSA.

Overview of the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy Webinar

On the 12th of August, 2020, a virtual training of over 1000 secondary school teachers and counselors was conducted via Zoom. The topic of the training was “Overview of the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy”. The Chief host of the training was the Lagos State Commissioner for Education (Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo), the co-host was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, and Mrs. Abosede Adelaja.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, gave an opening remark on behalf of the Commissioner. In her remarks, she stated that the Lagos State Government, as well as the Ministry of Education, is committed to working with teachers and counselors to ensure that child protection is effectively implemented in schools as it is fundamental to the development of every child.

The Permanent Secretary emphasized the support and commitment of the First Lady, wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in combating sexual violence, child molestation, and defilement, in schools. Teachers and counselors were mandated to implement the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and report all cases of child protection policy.

In collaboration with relevant stakeholders within the Ministry of Education, another virtual training titled “Teachers! “Their Role as Mandatory Reporters” was conducted via zoom and YouTube on the 20th of August, 2020. The Permanent Secretary in her opening remarks also emphasized the importance of effective implementation of child protection policy to bring about a reduction in the incidence of child abuse, rape, and maltreatment of children in schools. She emphasized that the Ministry is committed to creating and enforcing a management system that provides a safe environment for children in schools. In attendance were over 1000 secondary school teachers. The training program was tailored towards equipping public school teachers and counselors with the state’s Child Safeguarding and Mandatory reporting policy which will make adequate provision for children to make disclosures on resumption, have a dedicated counseling unit in schools which will provide the children with confidentiality, professional counseling, information and care in case reporting.

Lagos State Ministry of Education, Partners Cece Yara on Child Protection

L-R: Mrs. Bisi Ajayi- Kayode, Assistant Director, Cece Yara Foundation; Oluwatosin Williams, Deputy Director Child Guidance/ Counselling & Special Education; Grace Ketefe Executive Director Cece Yara Foundation; the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo; Mrs. Olusola Somoye, the Director Child Guidance/ Counselling & Special Education and Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

Sex Health Education Talk by Child Aid and Sponsorship Awareness Foundation on July 14, 2020, Mrs. Bola Tinubu, our founder trustee was a guest on a Webinar training organized by Child Aid and Sponsorship Awareness Foundation titled “Sex Health Education: Steering Effective Communications Between Guardians and Their Children”. The event was aimed at empowering parents with factual information to help prepare their minds and open up channels of communication between both parties. It was indeed an enlightening session.

The Cece Yara Chat Foundation’s sexual abuse prevention toolkit mobile App

In commemoration of the 2020 Children’s Day celebration on May 27th, 2020, and in a bid to curb the high rate of child sexual abuse and violence in Nigeria, the Cece Yara Foundation launched an innovative solution to empower children and adults with resources, skills, knowledge and to provide direct access to child protection professionals in form of an App.

The Cece Yara Foundation App is an innovative way to spread awareness of child sexual abuse. The app provides practical information and guidance on how to recognize and prevent sexual abuse and exploitation.

This App also has a chat feature for children to discuss freely with a professionally trained child counselor about issues that bother them and make a disclosure about unsafe touches without fear of being judged or reprimanded. Users can also make a direct report by clicking on the “Make a Report” button”.

Some unique features of the app include; Learning functions that allow users to have access to trivia to test their knowledge of body boundaries, body private parts, assertive skills, safe and unsafe touches as well as whom to report and how to report unsafe touches. It also includes the Cece Yara Safe kids Directory which is the very first child protection service portal in Nigeria. The App users can search for the nearest child protection service providers, including primary health centers, police stations, courts, child-centered NGOs, and Government agencies in Lagos State. Users can find their exact location using Google maps and give step-by-step directions to find the provider navigating from the user’s present location.

Through the App, the Foundation can provide emergency intervention for any child within Lagos State and Abuja, while referral services are provided to reliable partners from our network for children in other parts of the country.

Partnership with Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT and Lagos State Judiciary

Immediately the Lagos state government declared a lockdown to reduce the cases of infected persons with the disease, CYF Foundation knew there would be a high rise of sexual abuse cases. Hence the need to protect uninterrupted services to survivors of abuse. This informed the decision to partner with child protection service providers in other states and Lagos State (DSVRT) to respond effectively to cases of abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cece Yara Foundation in partnership with Lagos State Judiciary and Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team provided emergency rescue 40 children and shelter to 19 children aged 6-17 years who experienced sexual violence during the Covid-19 pandemic. The COVID 19 pandemic lockdown resulted in a spike in the incidence of sexual violence amongst children and adolescents in the state.

The spike in sexual violence also resulted in the Lagos State Government declaring a state of emergency, with civil society proposing stricter measures in addressing sexual violence.

Children Shelter a Top-notch amongst Others

The Cece Yara shelter is one of the few shelters that provide counseling services with shelter services. This has made the shelter to stand out amongst others. Thereby more children were referred by the government and other non-governmental organizations. The shelter has also been able to reunite children with their non-offending family members.

CYF partnering with the Nigeria Communications Commission- While internet opportunities are endless, if not properly handled, it could do a lot of damage, most importantly to our children as they do not understand the social and technical complexities of the internet. This is why the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Cece Yara Foundation are partnering to educate parents caregivers on how to keep children safe online during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Our helpline is also included on the NCC’s website

Read Aloud Lagos

Our Founder Trustee, Mrs. Bola Tinubu, in the company of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and others was at the virtual Launch of reading Aloud Lagos to celebrate Children’s day on May 27. This event was organized to inspire creative curiosity in children and make them believe that future dreams can become a reality. Mrs. Bola Tinubu inspired children with a book titled “Do you have a secret?” We appreciate the Lagos State Government for this for the opportunity.

Child Helpline- Inclusivity and multicultural Support

Our trained helpline counselors currently receive an average of 350 calls per month. We are proud of our 10 multicultural and multi-religious counselors who communicate fluently in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo language, and who are of Christian and Islamic faiths. We ensure that every caller receives help without any language or religious barrier. We added male counselors to support little boys or men who feel more comfortable speaking to the same gender.

Our Multi-Disciplinary Team at work - A Unique Way of Caring for our Clients

Our Multi-Disciplinary Team interfaces with child protection stakeholders; and enable a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach by lawyers, counselors, forensic interviewers, social workers, child advocates, medical personnel, the police, State Child Welfare Departments, and the Ministry of justice. During this reporting, the Team has attended to over 100 cases of child sexual and physical abuse involving children from a year old to 18 years old.

A group photograph of some members of Cece Yara Foundation Staff

We had to Scale-up Staff’s Capacity to effectively respond to Cases during This Pandemic

Staff participated in several national and international Webinars for capacity building and collaboration during the lockdown. Webinar training included those facilitated by Child helpline international (African region), UNICEF, Government agencies, ROLAC roundtable of NGOs, etc. More partnerships were gleaned from these Webinars.

In conclusion, we want to express our profound to all our health workers who are in the frontline of health care delivery to combat this rampaging COVID 19 Pandemic. We hereby state that we are appreciative of the huge sacrifices you are making to protect the health of the populace. We also seize this opportunity to appreciate those who partner with us in our collective bid to rid the society of child abuse even in this unusual period of COVID 19 Pandemic. Our appreciation also goes to all our stakeholders who manage to form a common front with us as we Labour to overcome all the odds, especially these challenging times. Thank you all.

Overview of the Lagos State Webinar

Lagos State Ministry of Education with Staff

CYF partnering with the NCC

Mrs. Tinubu

A photograph of some members of Cece Yara Team

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May 20, 2020
Creating a Happy Childhood for The Nigerian Child

By Grace Ketefe | Executive Director

Our New Abuja Child Advocacy Center

Cece Yara Foundation Report for January – April 2020

We began the year 2020 with the setting up of a Child Advocacy Center in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja ensuring that children in the Northern part of Nigeria can access a one-stop response Child Advocacy Centre in dealing with child sexual abuse cases. We also had series of consultative meetings with the police, we hosted them to a learning visit at our Lagos Child Advocacy Centre stressing why it is important the Police adopt child Forensic Interview as best practice in the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases in Nigeria. Plans are ongoing by the police to model our Forensic interview suites at designated police Area Commands and set up a Police statement taking desk at the Child Advocacy Centre. Furthermore, we have received many endorsements for the work we do from our partners - Government organizations. Such as the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) faith-based organization is etc.

The advent of COVID 19 pandemic took everyone by surprise with its attendant spate of lockdowns and associated socio-economic constraints. At CYF, we believe that every crisis has its inherent opportunities that may be exploited for beneficial purpose with the appropriate mindset, through due innovation and proper planning, and that the COVID 19 is no exception, hence the resolve to continue to provide our toll- free 24-hour child helpline managed by fully trained staff who all have experience of listening and providing advice to children and young people. Our Child Helpline lines were accessible to everyone who needed help, advice, and information to report or prevent child sexual abuse. We were able to arrange for emergency interventions for children who were at the risk of being abuse within and outside Lagos State. We were able to aid our clients to document the matter and at the police station and facilitated the arrest of alleged perpetrators, albeit were unable to go ahead with criminal proceedings during the lockdown. We shall, however, start these proceedings once the lockdown is lifted. Our Lead Child Therapist provided telephone/video counselling to children and their non-offending family members to help them overcome abuse even as we adhered to the lockdown as imposed by the government. Having incorporated the requisite precautionary measures, we equipped the majority of our staff to work from home, leaving the few who are to be with the children at the Foundation’s Shelter, of which comprehensive protective measures have been incorporated into its operation strategies. During the period We generated awareness that our Child Helpline was, and still, is as functional as ever to ensure hitch-free responses to issues of abuse during the lockdown,

We want to say thank to all child protection and healthcare providers who are on the front lines fighting this pandemic in Nigeria and another part of the world. You are our champions, true heroes taking care of our communities and saving lives every day. We cannot but say thank to all our teeming supporters for making us relevant at this period.

Engaging the Police to Adopt Child Forensic Interview Our Founder-Trustee, Mrs Bola Tinubu, recently led a high-level team to a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command – Mr Hakeem Odumosu, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police/Head of the Lagos State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti - Mrs Yetunde Longe, to discuss the adoption of Video-Recorded Child Forensic Interviews as best practice in the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases in Nigeria. This meeting succeeded in getting the buying in of the Police of the Forensic Interview process as shown by the referral of cases from the police to the Centre for forensic interview of child survivors.

Engaging the Lagos State Ministry of Education for Effective Child Protection Policy in Lagos State

The Foundation facilitated the setting up of the group - Advocacy Group Technical Group under the Rise up Project. The group held a meeting on the 25^th January to review the tools used by the Department of Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, for ensuring effective implementation of child protection policy in schools. Members reviewed the tool and were able to produce more checklist that prospective proprietors must put in place before the schools get governmental approval. As a result of effective collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Foundation was granted approval to conduct the training on prevention of child sexual abuse in schools.

Child Helpline

Till date the child helpline has recorded 14,560 calls from August 2016 till date which include calls by children and adults from all the 36 states of Nigeria.

Cece Yara Adult Child Protection Awareness Prevention Program

Our Adult Awareness Creation Program, which started in 2019, has empowered 3000 Adults- community stakeholders (i.e. traditional, religious, and community-based organization’s) and education professionals. During this period, we have empowered above 200 Adults.

The Safe kids Awareness Program

Before the lockdown, about 2335 children were trained between January and February 2020. Till date, the Foundation,

Till date, 32,126 children from 101 child-centred institutions across 14 LGA’s in Lagos State have been empowered by being equipped with safety skills, knowledge on recognizing sexual abuse, how to get help, and how to be assertive about body boundaries. There is no limit to the location of the awareness program; some of the locations included Badagry, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ikeja, Apapa, Festac and Ikeja

Our Child-Friendly Shelter

We are happy to say that despite the COVID 19 Pandemic, the Shelter is still functioning providing the needed interventions for children that need to be urgently moved to a safe space providing them with therapy to help them heal and live a healthy life. During this period, children were referred to the Shelter from the family court and other government agencies. Till date, our child-friendly shelter has provided a temporary home for over 22 children who need to be urgently removed from offending environments.

Feedback from Our Clients

A knight of the Catholic Church said “After undergoing your training and watching the video of the Adults survivors who tell their stories, I have never remained the same. I have told myself that I would take every step to prevent child sexual abuse. I am now a committed Active Bystander”.

A pupil, a recipient of our Safe Kid Awareness Prevention Program, called the Cece Yara Child helpline to say, “I want you to go to my sister’s school to teach them about Pant Rules. I learnt from the Mariam video”

Staying steadfast in commitment despite COVID 19 challenge

The Foundation is committed to continually innovate to meet up with her schedule of programs and thus ensure that her ever-expanding services to humanity are not unduly checkmated or threatened by the constraints spawned by the ravaging COVID 19 pandemics. The Foundation intends to consolidate on her already robust service by creatively exploring new avenues to expand the scope of her works.

Adult Awareness Program

Safe Kids Awareness Program

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Jan 21, 2020
Creating a Happy Childhood for The Nigerian Child

By Grace Ketefe | Executive Director

The year 2019 was indeed an exciting and ground breaking year for us at the Cece Yara Foundation, we are glad to announce that through our Safe Kids Awareness and Prevention Program we have trained over 25,000 children to keep themselves safe. We strengthened network with different societal actors’, government and non- governmental organisation both at the local and international level to promote the realization of children’s rights.

We could not achieve this great feat without our supporters and partners. We believe that partnerships are key to delivering on our goal to create a safe and happy childhood for every Nigerian Child - free from sexual abuse with easy access to care, information, protection and emergency intervention. In the coming period, we want to truly ‘walk the talk’ by empowering our adults and professionals to take steps to prevent and react responsibly to cases of child sexual abuse.

Thanks to all our partners, supporters, donors and volunteers, who made these feats possible. We are just starting and we hope to do more in the coming period.

1. Child Helpline

Till date the child helpline have recorded 12639 calls from 5488 caller’s person comprising of children and adults in 36 states of Nigeria, Canada, Italy and United State of America reporting concerns about child protection issues.

2. Cece Yara Adult Child Protection Awareness Prevention Program -

Our Adult Awareness Creation Program which started in 2019 has empowered 2145 Adults- community stakeholders (traditional, religious and community based organisations) and education professionals.

3. Safe Kids Awareness Program

Till date, 25241 children from 89 child centered institutions across 12 LGA’s in Lagos State have been empowered- equipped with safety skills - recognizing sexual abuse, how to get help, and being assertive about body boundaries.

4. Cece Yara at French Village International, Badagry

CYF is passionate about ensuring that every child in Lagos State is protected from sexual abuse irrespective of race, ethnicity, and religion. Distance was not considered a barrier at all as CYF went all the way to the Nigerian Border to Republic of Benin to empower children with the knowledge of the Underwear Rule, Body Safety and how to be assertive in stopping a perpetrator who may want to sexually abuse them.

5. Our multi-disciplinary Team at work - A unique Way of Caring for our Clients

Our Multi-Disciplinary Team interfaces with child protection stakeholders; and enable a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach by lawyers, forensic interviewers, social workers, child advocates, medical personnel, the police, State Child Welfare Departments and the Ministry of justice. The Team has since inception attended to a total of 670 cases of child abuse; Sexual, Physical, Neglect have been reported to the Foundation through its channels (Social media, Child Helpline, Walk-in, Office lines, outreaches etc.)

71 cases were referred to partner agencies. These are cases involving children not residing in Lagos and adults whose case is beyond our scope of operation.

6. Cece Yara Children Shelter

Till date, our child friendly shelter have provided temporary home for over 15 children who need to be urgently removed from an offending environment.

7. Sensitizing the World in One Minute

The Cece Yara Foundation through her awareness prevention program in collaboration with its partners produced a one-minute video to drive home the point that adults need to protect children and desist from violating them. CYF stated that abusers violate children because they do not see them as children that they are. CYF further emphasized that adults need to recognize the signs of abuse and know how to protect children from abuse.

8. International Day of the Girl Child 2019

On Friday, 11^th October 2019, CYF joined her partners all over the world to mark the International Day of the Girl Child for the year 2019 tagged: Girl Force- Unscripted and Unstoppable.

CYF used the medium to raise the awareness of burden the female folks face in Nigeria. The statistics of the girls being affected by Sexual Violence, Child Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation was also made available for all to see, be informed and take action.

Also, in Commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, Cece Team on the 12^th of October facilitated sessions on Gender inequality and teen relationship at the prestigious Atlantic Hall School with over 367 girls in attendance.

9. Award and Recognitions!!!!!

Appreciation Award - On the 12^th of October, 2019, Atlantic Hall Schools Educational Trust Council presented an award to the Cece Yara foundation as a show of appreciation for the foundation’s passion and effort in fighting against sexual abuse

Not-for -Profit of the Year Nominee - The Cece Yara Foundation was super thrilled to be amongst the final Nominees - Not- for-Profit of the Year category of the 2019 Sustainability and Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAS) awards in Nigeria.

10. Training Opportunity for Staff

In order to increase staff capacity to respond to Child sexual abuse cases, staff were provided with opportunity to attend various online and offline trainings. Our Staff participated in a 5-day training of Stakeholders on Child Online Protection: Consumer Awareness on Cybercrimes held in Abuja between 7th and 11^th October, 2019.

11. Feedback from Our Clients

A feedback system is required for every organization to evaluate its impact and identify positive areas of its services, as well as areas that need improvement. This we do at the Cece Yara Foundation with the aim of ensuring a better service delivery.

A client has this to say “Cece Yara made me feel at home and mum stopped blaming me for the abuse. I like the home work Doctor gave to us…Please help other children like me”.

This is an unedited testimony given by our client. It has strengthened our commitment to helping children round the clock throughout the year.

12. Union Bank’s Edu 360

Edu 360 is a yearly event organized by Union Bank to engage key education stakeholders across government, civil society, private sector and education institutions. At this year’s event The Founder Trustee of the Cece Yara Foundation, Mrs. Bola Tinubu was amongst the stakeholders who were invited.

She educated the guests on sex education, talking to children about sex and adult’s responsibility in protecting children.

13. Exclusive Screening of the Cece Yara Stories-A documentary Film on Child Sexual Abuse

On the 27^th of October, 2019, the Cece Yara Foundation screened her documentary film on child sexual abuse. The documentary film is a collection of real-life stories given by survivors who have healed to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and to encourage other survivors to seek professional help.

Present at the screening were government officials, dignitaries, child protection stakeholders and philanthropists. The guests were highly impressed and expressed their commitment to support Cece Yara in this war against child sexual abuse.

14. UNDP/ Wellbeing Foundation High Level Meeting

Our Founder, Mrs. Bola Tinubu was present at the high-level roundtable stakeholder’s engagement; involving Private sectors, Philanthropists, Multi-level stakeholders which was organized by United Nations Population Found in collaboration with Wellbeing Foundation Africa. This event tagged Road to Nairobi ICPD25 also welcomed UNFPA Director of Strategic Partnerships, Maria-Rosa Cutillo to Nigeria.

15 Cece Yara, Rise Up Advocacy Group Meets with DG Office of the Education Quality Assurance for Effective Implementation of Child Protection Policy in Lagos State

Under this reporting period, Rise Up Advocacy Group comprising of child protection stakeholders was established. This advocacy group includes representatives from Human Development Initiative (HDI), Sustainable Education and Enterprise Development (SEED), Teach for Nigeria and other child protection stakeholders.

The group aimed at addressing the alarming and growing trend of defilement, child abuse and maltreatment of children by engaging key decision makers and making them accountable.

On the 9th December 2019 the Cece Yara, Rise Up Advocacy Group engaged the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, - Mrs. Biola Seriki-Ayeni, and other officials to strategize on effective implementation of child protection Policy in Lagos State Schools.

The Director General pledged Ministry ‘s full support to work with the group, she further enlarge the group to include government officials and endorsed the group as the “Technical Working Group”. The group will hold quarterly meeting with the office of Quality Assurance to strategize, review the program and activities for effective implementation of the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

16. Empowering our Education Professionals to effectively Implement Child Protection Policy in Child Friendly Institutions

Cece Yara Foundation in collaboration with Rise Up and with support of Public Health Institution in December 2019 trained 100 education professionals (from 50 pilot schools) who would serve as Child Protection Officers to ensure the effective implementation of the Lagos State Safeguarding and child Protection policies. This training is crucial in addressing the alarming and growing trend of defilement, child abuse and maltreatment by creating and enforcing a management system that provides a safe environment for children in child-centered institution; particularly in schools. Sole Administrator of an Education District stated “this is a very wonderful initiative and I will want it extended to other Education District in Lagos State.”

Some of the participants that attended the training for educational professionals to effectively Implement Child Protection Policy in Child Friendly Institutions

17. Cece Yara Team Participated at the | “Walk to Commit and Act” organised by the Lagos State Government

On the 26^th of November, 2019, The Cece Yara Foundation joined the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Heads of Judiciary and Legislature, Top Government Officials, Government Agencies, as well as other Gender Based Violence Prevention Stakeholders for a walk against Domestic and Sexual Violence tagged “Walk to Commit and Act”. This event was initiated by the Domestic and Sexual Violence response Team to raise awareness on domestic and sexual violence.

18. 30^th Anniversary of the convention of the rights of the child

We were honored to celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at an evening of Art and Poetry hosted by British Deputy High Commission, Harriet Thomson, in conjunction with UNICEF Nigeria. The highlight was a special poetry reading by Professor Wole Soyinka to commemorate the anniversary. Child Rights is serious and it’s for all to protect.

19. Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCs) Network Conference

Cece Yara Foundation was live at the 5^th Annual SARCs Network Conference held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja on the 4^th-6^th December 2019.

At the event, Mrs. Bisi Ajayi-Kayode-Assistant Director of the Foundation had a presentation on “tailoring of services to include children”. In her talks she emphasize the need to have an effective child protection policy in all the 36 states of the federation

20. Cece Yara Foundations Partnership with Sustainable Education and Enterprise Development (SEED)

In working to ensure every child has access to a safe and happy childhood free of sexual abuse; irrespective of social class or background, CYF and SEED signed a partnership agreement to jointly equip over 700 schools from low income communities and support them in implementing The Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. These schools are low cost schools providing education to children with low standard of living. The Cece Yara Foundation Team and SEED’s representative signing the MoU.

21. No Tolerance Walk with WARIF

On Saturday 7^th December 2019, members of the Cece Yara Team joined Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) and over 800 people from various organisations and Institutions on a NO TOLERANCE march against rape and sexual violence in Nigeria. This awareness is a very important step towards sexual violence prevention.

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