The five-day programme, themed “My Silence Ends Here,” is focused on strengthening child protection and creating safe channels for children to report abuse.
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| Lagos State has commenced the 2026 Safeguarding and Child Protection Week themed “My Silence Ends Here. |
The Lagos State Government has commenced the 2026 Safeguarding and Child Protection Week with a renewed call for stronger measures to protect children from abuse and ensure that concerns raised by them receive appropriate attention.
The five-day programme, themed “My Silence Ends Here,” began on Monday, September 21, at the LASUBEB Hall in Maryland, Lagos, and will run until Friday, September 25. Activities are being implemented across the state’s six education districts.
The initiative, led by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, is expected to engage more than 1,500 children through activities focused on safeguarding, child protection, awareness and the importance of speaking up when they feel unsafe.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, stressed that children need environments where they can disclose abuse without fear. She also emphasised that safeguarding requires adults and institutions to listen to children and respond appropriately when concerns are raised.
The Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described child protection as a collective responsibility involving government, schools, parents, communities and other stakeholders. She encouraged children to speak up whenever they feel unsafe and reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that their concerns are taken seriously.
The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, also highlighted the role of schools in safeguarding children. He urged education stakeholders to remain vigilant and responsive to signs or reports of abuse and called for greater cooperation among schools, families, communities and government institutions.
Activities during the week include interactive sessions, artistic presentations, music and dance, an awards presentation and a pledge ceremony, with further engagements scheduled across Lagos’ education districts.
The programme forms part of Lagos State’s wider efforts to prevent domestic and sexual violence and strengthen protection systems for vulnerable people. The DSVA has also reported that more than 60,000 educators, parents and caregivers have been trained through the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Online Course.