DEVATOP Sensitizes Lagos Pupils on Child Rights and Protection from Abuse
On June 20 and 27, 2025, DEVATOP Centre for Africa Development conducted an impactful school sensitisation program on the basic rights of children for pupils aged 12 to 16 in Ado Soba and Okokomiko communities, Lagos State. The sessions, held at Angel Vivi School, Okoko, and Ansar-Udeen Primary School, Ado Soba, were designed to educate children about their legal and moral rights, as well as equip them with the knowledge to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The program opened with an introduction by Abba Victor, a Community Legal Advocate with DEVATOP, who commended the students for their punctuality and composure. Engaging the pupils in discussion, he asked them to define who a child is. Responses ranged from “a child is someone still living with his or her parents,” to “a person not allowed to drive or vote,” and “someone in primary or secondary school.” Abba clarified that, by law, a child is any individual under the age of eighteen and emphasized that children are entitled to special protections because of their vulnerability.
Guiding the discussion on child rights, Abba and the facilitator, Noreen Abalaka, encouraged the students to share the rights they believed children should have. Their answers included the right to education, the right to play, and the right not to be abused or excessively punished. The facilitators then elaborated on the comprehensive rights of children, including the right to life, education, healthcare, clean water, nutritious food, and adequate shelter. They also discussed the right to protection from abuse, neglect, child labor, trafficking, and harmful practices, as well as the right to rest, leisure, participation in cultural life, and to be heard in matters affecting their lives. Children were also informed of their right to identity, family care, and non-discrimination regardless of background or gender.
The session also addressed sensitive but crucial topics. Noreen explained sexually sensitive body parts and why they must be protected. She urged the pupils never to allow anyone, including close relatives, to touch these areas and to report any inappropriate behavior immediately to their parents, teachers, or through the TALKAM app—a mobile tool developed by DEVATOP that enables anonymous reporting of abuse and exploitation. She encouraged the pupils to engage with the app on their parents’ phones, noting that it is interactive, educative, and easy to use. Students were also cautioned against touching others inappropriately, as such behavior could have consequences later in life. Manuals and diagrams of the human body were distributed to reinforce this learning.
An interactive group activity further deepened the children’s understanding. They were divided into groups and tasked with recalling and listing the rights they had learned, using cardboard, color markers, and scissors for their presentations. Each group proudly presented their work, demonstrating a clear grasp of the lessons. The session concluded with pupils confidently listing their rights, identifying sensitive body parts, and expressing determination to report any abuse using the TALKAM app.
The event ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Muogbo Chukwudumebi, who expressed heartfelt appreciation to DEVATOP for selecting their school to sensitize their pupils. She promised, on behalf of her peers, to share the knowledge gained with other students and children in the community. Group photographs captured the day’s success, marking the conclusion of a sensitization program that was not only educational but also empowering and transformative for the young participants.
