Edo Strengthens Child Protection System With Training On New Alternative Care Guidelines
The Edo State Project Manager of SOS Children’s Villages, Christopher Obasogie, says children placed in institutional care often face numerous challenges, including low self-esteem, lack of confidence, inadequate education and life skills, vulnerability to exploitation, and difficulty participating fully in society.
He noted that alternative care is adopted only when parents are unable or unwilling to care for their children, and only after all efforts to support the family have been exhausted.
Obasogie made the remarks at a two-day capacity-building workshop for stakeholders on the implementation and monitoring of Alternative Care Guidelines for children in Edo State.
The event, organised by the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, aimed to strengthen the child protection system and improve care for vulnerable children.
Speaking at the workshop held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City, Obasogie described institutional care as a form of residential care for large groups of children, calling it a “one-size-fits-all” approach in which identical services are provided regardless of age, gender, abilities, needs, or reasons for separation from parents.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Eugenia Abdallah—represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien—said the workshop reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable children receive safe, appropriate, and family-based care.
She noted that the guidelines mark a significant step toward aligning the state with national and international standards focused on safeguarding children’s rights and preventing unnecessary family separation.
Mrs. Abdallah emphasized that while the guidelines offer a strong policy framework, effective implementation requires sustained collaboration and coordination. She explained that the workshop addresses critical aspects of the alternative care system, including gatekeeping, case management, strengthening family and community-based care, enforcing minimum standards in childcare institutions, and establishing robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
Also speaking, the Family Strengthening Coordinator of SOS Children’s Villages, Maryam Cam, highlighted the importance of gatekeeping in ensuring proper decision-making for children who may require alternative care. Citing the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (2010), she noted that gatekeeping involves thorough assessment, informed decision-making, and periodic review to determine whether a child truly requires alternative placement, and which type of care best meets the child’s needs.
