By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Children in Lagos State schools are being taught that their silence should end here, as the state government launches a five-day child protection campaign targeting more than 1,500 pupils across its six education districts.
The campaign, led by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), forms part of the 2026 Safeguarding and Child Protection Week, themed “My Silence Ends Here.” In a statement issued on Tuesday, 23 September, 2026, the agency’s Public Affairs Unit Director, Onadipe Opebere, disclosed that the week-long exercise would run until Friday.
Speaking at the kick-off of the campaign on Monday, 21 September, 2026, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, explained that children needed environments in which they could report abuse without fear, and where adults and institutions would take responsible action in addressing such complaints.
She stressed that safeguarding could not be achieved merely by telling children to speak up, but also required adults and institutions to listen and act whenever children disclosed concerns.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Education Board, Hakeem Shittu, said schools had a particularly important role to play in protecting children.
He urged education stakeholders to remain vigilant and responsive to signs and reports of abuse by pupils and students, while calling for stronger cooperation between schools, families, communities and relevant government institutions to create safer learning environments.
In her keynote address, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described child protection as a collective responsibility involving government, schools, parents, communities and other stakeholders, urging children to report situations in which they felt unsafe.
The campaign will see students and stakeholders across the state’s education districts participate in sessions focused on child safety, protection, awareness and speaking out against abuse.
