By Danhassan Abubakar
Bauchi State has commenced a two-day review meeting on the Federal Government’s guidelines for the implementation of the Alternative Child Care Policy.
The exercise seeks to examine the policy document and adopt sections most relevant to the state’s peculiar needs in safeguarding children.
Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Zainab Baban Takko—represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Sale Mamman Mumini—commended the Child Protection Network for convening the review sessions. He stressed that their contributions would provide a clear direction for strengthening child protection in Bauchi.
He further expressed the ministry’s appreciation to the TWG, which draws its membership from government officials and a coalition of Civil Society Organisations under the Child Protection Network (CPN).
Speaking to our correspondent on the sidelines, Deputy Coordinator of the CPN, Habiba Usman Sa’ad, assured that members of the TWG would bring their best expertise to the review process to ensure the policy’s smooth adoption in the state.
Also, the resource person for the meeting, Ubangari Donald, expressed confidence in the TWG’s capacity to produce a strong, context-specific document. He noted that several states in the federation have already domesticated the policy, adding that Bauchi would soon join their ranks once validation is completed.
Our correspondent reports that the review and validation meeting was jointly organised by the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development and the Child Protection Network (CPN), with support from CPN at the National level.
(featured picture used for illustrative purposes only)
