Devatop Centre Sensitizes 100 Pupils on Children’s Rights, Child Abuse and Drug Dangers in Ijegun, Lagos State

Devatop Centre for Africa Development extended its advocacy for children’s rights and safety to four schools in Lagos last Friday, reaching 100 pupils in a sensitization program held across Ijegun Nursery and Primary School 1 & 2 and Ijegun Egba Nursery and Primary School 1 & 2. The initiative brought together facilitators from the organization to speak directly to young learners about their rights, the risks of child domestic labour and abuse, and the dangers of drug misuse, in a bid to equip them with the knowledge to stay safe and make sound decisions.

The event opened with a welcome address from Excellent of the Ijegun-Egba Community Liaison Assistant (CLA) office, who introduced the visiting team to the pupils, gave a short background on Devatop Centre for Africa Development, and outlined the goals of the day’s program.

Following the introduction, Peculiar, a member of the organization’s Monitoring and Evaluation team, led a session focused on children’s rights and the protection of child domestic workers. She walked the pupils through their fundamental rights, including the rights to education, protection, healthcare, and a safe living environment. Peculiar also explained who child domestic workers are, the various forms of abuse they may face, and why it is important for children to speak up and report abuse to a trusted adult. She reminded the pupils that alongside knowing their rights, they also carry a responsibility to respect the rights of others.

Grace, a Program Assistant with the organization, took the pupils through a session on the dangers of drug abuse. She detailed how substance abuse can harm a child’s health, disrupt their education, and jeopardize their future. Grace encouraged the pupils to resist peer pressure, build self-confidence, and consistently choose behavior’s that protect their wellbeing and long-term prospects.

Throughout the program, pupils were active participants, asking questions and engaging enthusiastically with the facilitators. By the end of the session, the children showed a clear improvement in their understanding of children’s rights, child protection issues, and the importance of making safe, responsible choices in their daily lives.

The sensitization forms part of Devatop Centre for Africa Development’s continued efforts to protect vulnerable children and build a generation of well-informed young people who understand and can advocate for their own rights.