Stakeholders in Katagum LGA Call for Collective Action on Child Protection in Bauchi State

By Musa Shehu Katagum

Stakeholders in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State have called for stronger collaboration and sustained community awareness to ensure the effective implementation of the Bauchi State Child Protection Law.

The call was made during a town hall meeting organized by the Women, Child, Youth, Health and Education Initiative Project, with support from the Malala Fund, to promote greater understanding and implementation of the law at the grassroots.

The meeting brought together government representatives, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, parents and other community stakeholders to deliberate on measures to strengthen the protection of children’s rights and welfare.

Speaking at the event, the Senior Programme Officer, Kamal Ali Sani, emphasized the need for increased awareness of the Child Protection Law, particularly at the community level.

Sani said communities must understand their responsibilities in protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of violence, stressing that effective child protection requires the active participation of all stakeholders.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Hajiya Rashida Musa Mukaddas, called for sustained commitment and collective action to ensure that the provisions of the law translate into meaningful protection for children across communities.

Mukaddas urged stakeholders to move beyond awareness creation and strengthen mechanisms for implementing the law at the grassroots, where children and families are most directly affected.

Also speaking, the District Head of Azare, Engineer Muhammad Galadima Magaji, who was represented by the Sarkin Sudan of Azare, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabo, expressed support for initiatives aimed at strengthening child protection.

He encouraged traditional and community leaders to take an active role in safeguarding children and promoting a culture that respects and protects their rights.

Participants agreed that effective implementation of the Bauchi State Child Protection Law require continuous public awareness, meaningful community engagement and stronger collaboration among government institutions, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, parents and other relevant stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collective action towards creating a safer and more protective environment in which every child can grow, learn and thrive.