The Ogun State Government has restated its commitment to sustain advocacy against child abuse and to prosecute anyone found guilty of such acts.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olatokunbo Talabi, made this known on Monday while receiving the Executive Council of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Talabi said the administration has taken a firm stand against all forms of abuse, particularly those involving children, and remains determined to track down and bring perpetrators to justice.
He explained that part of the government’s response includes providing effective and affordable maternal and child healthcare through a comprehensive insurance package that allows mothers and children to access medical services before and after delivery without out-of-pocket expenses.
The SSG added that the state is open to new initiatives that can further improve child welfare and healthcare delivery.
Earlier, the President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, Prof. Ekanem Ekute, praised the state government’s efforts in maternal care, noting that children and adolescents make up a large part of the nation’s population and should be treated as a national asset.
He raised concerns about low immunisation coverage and the number of children who have never been vaccinated, linking poor child health outcomes to limited access to clean water and environmental challenges.
Prof. Ekute called on governments at all levels to increase funding for child-focused programmes, including stronger immunisation and logistics systems, improved primary healthcare, digital health technology, a comprehensive health insurance package for children under five, and stronger protection against all forms of abuse.
