The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, is set to convene a critical national dialogue aimed at confronting one of Nigeria’s most pervasive yet underreported crises: the rampant abuse of its children.
Scheduled to commence on Thursday, August 28, 2025, the annual Press Week will be themed, “Silent Cries: Uncovering the Deep-Rooted Crisis of Child Abuse in Nigeria and the Role of the Media in Breaking the Cycle.” The event aims to shift the national conversation from silence to action, mobilizing key sectors of society to defend the rights of vulnerable children.
In a powerful alignment of faith and advocacy, the symposium will be hosted under the distinguished auspices of His Eminence, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, Founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Ejigbo, Lagos. Widely respected as both a prophetic voice and a dedicated humanitarian, Primate Ayodele will deliver the keynote address, bringing his influential platform to the forefront of this social justice issue. His involvement underscores the urgent necessity for faith-based leaders to join forces with the media, policymakers, and civil society to create a unified front against child exploitation.
The choice of theme addresses a grim reality. Child abuse in Nigeria has reached epidemic proportions, manifesting as physical violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking, neglect, and harmful cultural practices. Countless children endure suffering daily, often within the very environments—homes, schools, and religious institutions—meant to be their sanctuaries. The consequences are devastating, leading to lifelong psychological trauma, interrupted education, and shattered futures.
Despite the existence of legal frameworks, a culture of silence, stigma, and complicity, coupled with weak enforcement of laws, continues to perpetuate this cycle of violence.
The Press Week is designed to be a solutions-oriented forum, seeking to formulate actionable strategies in several key areas:
· Enhanced Vigilance: Recognizing early signs of abuse and strengthening community-based reporting mechanisms.
· Safe Channels: Establishing confidential and secure avenues for victims to report abuse without fear.
· Media Empowerment: Equipping journalists to ethically investigate, expose, and drive sustained national conversation on abuse cases.
· Leadership Mobilization: Engaging faith and traditional leaders to challenge and change harmful cultural practices from within.
· Legal Reform: Identifying gaps in Nigeria’s child rights legislation and advocating for swift and sure justice for perpetrators.
The event will feature deep-dive panel sessions with leading experts, advocates, legal luminaries, and community leaders. Critical topics to be explored include:
· Faith, Culture, and Abuse: When Tradition Fails the Child
· The Legal Disconnect: Are Nigeria’s Child Protection Laws Enough?
The NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel extends an invitation to journalists, policymakers, members of civil society, and all concerned stakeholders to join this landmark event. The goal is clear: to amplify the silent cries of Nigeria’s children and collectively forge a path toward a nation where every child is safe, heard, and protected.
