EDO STATE VALIDATES UPDATED CHILD PROTECTION, SAFEGUARDING POLICY TO ADDRESS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY RISKS
The Edo State Government has taken a significant step towards strengthening child protection with the validation of the updated Edo State Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, a framework designed to address emerging threats to children, including risks associated with rapid technological advancements and artificial intelligence (AI).
The two-day technical validation meeting, held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Benin City, brought together key stakeholders from government ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, child protection actors and other relevant institutions to review and adopt the updated policy.
The exercise was supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Phase II Programme, an initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA, as part of efforts to strengthen child protection systems in Edo State.
In her welcome address, the Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Media, Daisy Osunde, reaffirmed the commitment of the Edo State Government to protecting the rights, dignity and welfare of every child.
She noted that the review of the policy reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that child protection mechanisms remain relevant and responsive to contemporary realities, particularly the challenges posed by digital technology and online platforms.
Speaking during the technical session, the Edo State Programme Officer of RoLAC and Technical Facilitator, Mr. Imonitie Omokhodion, explained that the review became necessary to address gaps identified in the 2015 Child Protection Policy and to align the framework with present-day realities.
According to him, the updated 2026 version introduces significant improvements, including provisions that respond to the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence, while also providing safeguards against modern threats facing children.
” We have reviewed the document to a 2026 version that has provided a lot of improvement to the 2015 version, particularly in terms of the rise in technology, which we didn’t have in 2015, artificial intelligence, and the increasing risks these things pose against children,” he said.
Omokhodion further explained that the revised policy establishes minimum standards that every child-facing institution in Edo State must comply with, ensuring uniformity in child protection practices across public and private institutions.
He emphasized that effective implementation of the policy requires a collective commitment from all sectors of society, rather than placing the responsibility solely on the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development or local government child protection structures.
“Implementation is a whole-of-society affair. Our school principals, heads of child-facing institutions and every stakeholder now have a role to play. The reviewed document sets a baseline, a minimum standard that child-facing institutions within the state must comply with,” he stated.
Participants at the meeting subjected the draft policy and its accompanying schedules to extensive scrutiny, making recommendations aimed at strengthening the document and ensuring it adequately addresses current child protection challenges.
The validation exercise concluded with stakeholders reaching a consensus on the final amendments and formally adopting the updated Edo State Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
The validated policy is expected to provide a more comprehensive framework for preventing abuse, exploitation, neglect and other forms of violence against children, while promoting safer environments for children in homes, schools, communities and all child-facing institutions across Edo State.
Daisy Osunde
Director of Media
MWASD
