Child’s safety must trump family reputation, stakeholders warn

…as Vanguard Assistant Woman Editor launches book

By Efe Onodjae

Stakeholders in child protection have called for stronger support systems for survivors of child sexual abuse, warning that family reputation, social stigma and institutional image must not take precedence over children’s safety, dignity and recovery.

They made the call at the public presentation of Flora’s Flower, a book written by journalist and child rights advocate, Funmi Ajumobi, in Lagos, with the theme, “Beyond Justice: Strengthening Support Systems for Child Abuse Survivors.”

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, who reviewed the book, said the culture of silence surrounding child sexual abuse often prevented survivors from speaking out and perpetrators from being held accountable.

She warned families against concealing abuse to avoid public embarrassment, stressing that parents and guardians must create safe environments where children could disclose their experiences without fear of blame, intimidation or rejection.

Vivour-Adeniyi urged parents to take children’s disclosures seriously, report suspected abuse promptly and seek assistance from relevant authorities, healthcare facilities and trauma centres.

She also cautioned against excessive parental control that could isolate children from trusted adults capable of identifying signs of abuse and offering assistance.

The DSVA boss stressed that prosecuting offenders alone was insufficient, noting that survivors also required counselling, medical care, psychosocial support and assistance to return to school and rebuild their lives.

She recommended the use of Flora’s Flower in schools, religious institutions, parent forums and community programmes to promote child protection awareness and encourage reporting of abuse.

Similarly, Mr Olabode Olaoba, who represented the Chairman of the occasion and Special Guest of Honour, Mr Kayode Filani, said justice should extend beyond punishing offenders to protecting survivors, restoring their dignity and preventing further harm.

Olaoba said children who experienced abuse often faced stigma, intimidation, family pressure and disbelief, which could discourage them from reporting their experiences and compound their trauma.

He called for stronger family and community support systems, improved access to qualified counsellors and psychologists, effective implementation of child protection laws and better coordination among relevant institutions.

He urged law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judicial officers, healthcare providers, teachers and social welfare personnel to adopt child-sensitive approaches that prioritised survivors’ welfare and prevented further trauma.

Olaoba also called on parents, religious leaders, traditional rulers and community stakeholders to provide safe environments where children could report abuse without fear of blame or rejection.

He urged government agencies, civil society organisations, schools, healthcare providers and the private sector to collaborate in ensuring that survivors received comprehensive and sustained support.

Commending the initiative, he called on the organisers to translate the summit’s deliberations into practical recommendations, stronger referral networks and measurable interventions.

He said the success of the initiative should be assessed by the actions taken after the event and their impact on vulnerable children.

The author, Ajumobi, described Vanguard Media Limited as a platform where destinies thrived, talents were nurtured and individuals were empowered to realise their potential.

Expressing appreciation to Vanguard’s Publisher, Mr Sam Amuka; Chairman, Mrs Omasan Dudu; Editor, Mr Eze Anaba; and the board of editors for their support, she said the organisation had provided opportunities for people to discover their voices and develop their abilities.

“For me, Vanguard is more than a newspaper organisation. Vanguard is a place where destinies are allowed to thrive. It is a place where people are given opportunities to discover their voices, develop their abilities and become more than they initially imagined,” she said.

Ajumobi also appreciated former Lagos State First Lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola, for encouraging her to rewrite the book after the first manuscript was claimed by another person.

Explaining the motivation behind Flora’s Flower, she said the book highlighted the need to support child abuse survivors beyond the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.

She called for stronger support systems, including counselling, medical care, legal assistance and safe spaces where children could speak without fear.

Ajumobi disclosed that part of the proceeds from the book launch would support a breakfast-feeding initiative for children in Ikorodu, Lagos State, to encourage school attendance and reduce their vulnerability.

She said the book was also designed as an educational resource, containing child protection helpline information for different countries to guide survivors towards appropriate assistance.

Flora’s Flower tells the story of Flora, a 16-year-old secondary school student who suffers abuse by people she knows and trusts. It examines how poor communication, family pressure and silence can allow abuse to continue.

The book presentation attracted dignitaries and representatives of government, education, religious institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector.

Those in attendance included Fashola, Chairman of the Lagos Education and Resource Network, LEARN; Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende; Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, Hon. Lijirin Ruth; and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite.

Others were Vivour-Adeniyi; the Queen of Aponmu Kingdom, Osun State, Olori Janet Afolabi; Senior Pastor, Waterbrooks Ministry International, Ikorodu, Apostle Olaniyi Aniya; and Olaoba, who represented the chairman of the occasion.

Corporate organisations and civil society groups represented included VCare Development Initiative, Child Protection Network, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, First Adequate Benefit Insurance Broker, Kimpact Development Initiative and Damsy Foundation.

Students and representatives of King’s College, Queen’s College, The Apostolic Church Grammar School, Lyncrest Group of Schools, Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Isolo, Mylod Private School and Pearlshore Academy, Baruwa, Lagos, also attended the event.