Benue Govt, UNICEF Partner to Strengthen Child Protection Across State

From Dooshima Hir, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in building capacity and establishing community-based child protection structures aimed at strengthening child protection across the state.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs.

Theresa Ikwue, disclosed this while receiving the UNICEF Representative and Child Protection Officer, Enugu Field Office, Mr. Victor Atuchukwu, during a courtesy visit to her office on Tuesday.

Mrs. Ikwue, who described herself as a strong child protection advocate, expressed readiness for further collaboration with UNICEF and assured of the ministry’s continued support, including the deployment of additional staff to ensure the success of the intervention.

She commended UNICEF for training auxiliary social workers who would operate at the community level to deliver child protection services and pledged to review the state’s Child Protection Action Plan for more effective implementation.

On his part, Mr. Atuchukwu said UNICEF had commenced the training of auxiliary social workers in Makurdi, Guma, and Gwer West Local Government Areas.

He explained that the training, which will be certified by Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi, is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge required to deliver child protection services in rural communities across the state.

Atuchukwu also called for the deployment of more ministry staff to the UNICEF desk to support planning, implementation, and execution of the intervention programme.

He commended the Benue State Government for its cooperation and the management of Akawe Torkula Polytechnic for providing resource persons and certification support towards the programme’s success.