The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its determination to sustain advocacy against child abuse, vowing to hold accountable anyone found guilty of such harmful acts.
The declaration was made by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Olatokunbo Talabi, on Monday, the 26th of January, 2026, during a visit by the Executive Council of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria to his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Talabi emphasised that the administration has consistently taken a firm stance against all forms of abuse, particularly against children, and from the outset has been resolute in tackling the menace by pursuing perpetrators to cleanse society of such evils.
He highlighted some of the measures implemented, including the provision of effective and affordable maternal and child healthcare through a comprehensive insurance package, which delivers efficient health services for mothers and children both before and after delivery, “without out-of-pocket expenses.”
Talabi further noted that the government remains open to “any other progressive initiatives that would assist in improving child care in the state without prejudice.”
Earlier, Prof. Ekanem Ekute, President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, lauded the state government’s efforts in maternal care, emphasising that children and adolescents form the majority of the nation’s population and “remain the nation’s assets.”
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He stressed that their health and well-being must be a priority, expressing concern over children who have never received vaccinations.
Prof. Ekute observed that low immunisation coverage, inadequate access to clean water, and other environmental challenges continue to produce persistently poor outcomes for children, urging governments at all levels to “prioritise child immunisation and care.”
He also advocated for increased funding through improved budgets for children, recommending measures such as effective immunisation and logistics systems, a functional primary healthcare system, digital health technology, “a comprehensive health insurance package for children under five,” and protection against “all forms of abuse.”