Nigeria loses $6.1 billion annually to violence against children ― UNICEF

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria loses over $6.1 billion annually to violence against children urging stakeholders to unite in ending the scourge.

UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist, Mayram Enyiazu, made this known on Tuesday at Enugu, Enugu State Capital, during the opening of a two-day media dialogue on Social Work Professionalization Bill.

Stakeholders at the event called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the bill to ensure its passage and assent into law by President Muhammadu Buhari before the end of the lifespan of the current administration.

Enyiazu said with various challenges and the high proportion of the population of the country that is vulnerable, the country needs a strong social welfare workforce to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030.

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He explained that the total loss of earnings attributable to childhood violence against children put at $6.1 billion accounted for 1.07 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She noted that Nigeria currently has only 8,497 trained Social Workers, describing this as grossly inadequate for the country’s population of about 180 million.

She said: “Over the years social work has not been given desired attention, social work is greatly misunderstood in Nigeria, under-resourced, underfunded and does not have the support of key stakeholders.

“We are talking about a population of over 180 million with less than 9,000 professional social workers. The challenges are huge,” she said.

She listed some of the issues to include child protection, cases of violence against children, people with disabilities and families that are in need of support.

She noted that until the profession is regulated, standardized and trained people licensed to do the job of social work, the problem would remain with the country.

Deputy Director, Child Right Information Bureau Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Abuja, Mr Olumide Osanyinpeju, said UNICEF has been in the forefront of ensuring that the bill for the establishment of Nigeria Council for Social Work is actualized.

He said the system of Social Welfare for Children is one of the elements of child protection system which plays a vital role in preventing and responding to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect of children.

Osanyinpeju lamented that social workers in Nigeria have been given less attention, adding the profession “is characterized with low pay and unsatisfactory work conditions, including limited office space, and lack of transportation and telephones which have contributed to lack of commitment and a struggle for Professional identity”.

He stressed that one way to seek legitimacy and boost the Profession in Nigeria is through establishing a regulatory mechanism to ensure licensure, certification and registration.