By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Community volunteers from Miri community in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State have undergone a one-day capacity-building training on child protection, support mechanisms, and foster community engagement.
The training was organised by the Bauchi State Chapter of the Child Protection Network (CPN) and aimed at equipping participants with basic skills for identifying, managing, and reporting child abuse cases at the community level, while also strengthening community-based fostering initiatives.
Speaking at the opening of the training, the Vice Chairperson of CPN Bauchi State, Hajiya Fasuma Muhammad, emphasised the importance of the exercise, urging participants to pay close attention to the sessions and seek clarification where necessary. She noted that informed community volunteers play a critical role in safeguarding children and promoting their wellbeing.
Surajo Musa Disina, Child Protection, Desk Officer, Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development delivered a comprehensive presentation on the fundamentals of child protection within communities. The session covered tell-tale signs of child abuse, various forms of abuse, and appropriate first-response actions. The facilitator stressed that the immediate priority in cases of physical abuse is to ensure the child receives medical attention before further interventions are pursued. He added that the Ministry, in collaboration with civil society organisations, often takes over reported cases to ensure proper investigation and justice.
In a second presentation, the official highlighted foster community systems as a strategy for building community resilience, improving socio-economic stability, and nurturing a supportive environment for vulnerable and abused children.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Bauchi State Chapter of CPN, Mr. Kingsley Yalling, spoke on child abuse case management at the community level and the referral process to relevant authorities. He commended the volunteers for their selfless service and encouraged them to remain steadfast, noting that their presence within communities is vital to preventing and reducing child abuse.
Mr. Yalling expressed appreciation to the Bauchi State Government for demonstrating political will in addressing child protection concerns, and also thanked SOS-CPNN and SOS Children’s Villages for their support towards the successful conduct of the training.
Some participants who spoke to journalists expressed gratitude for the opportunity to take part in the programme, stating that the training had broadened their understanding of how to identify abuse cases and provide appropriate support to affected children.
