by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Chairperson of Gender Equal Opportunities Commission, Barrister Oliver Dazyam, has asserted that, “In Africa, every child is our child, and no one should ignore acts of abuse or neglect.”
She stressed that, “It is a crime for parents to abandon their children or shift parental responsibilities onto them, as such neglect often drives children into harmful behaviours to survive.”
Barr. Dazyam was speaking in an advocacy engagement at the Gbong Gwom Jos Palace, with the Plateau State Chairman Traditional Rulers, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, and Council of Chiefs and Emirs in the Palace on Tuesday.
While emphasizing that every child is entitled to quality education, proper care, and protection, she appealed to the Council of Chiefs and Emirs to initiate cultural reforms to eliminate harmful practices such as female disinheritance.
She noted that, as respected community leaders, she urged them to lead awareness campaigns in their localities, promote preventive measures, and encourage families to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
This was part of its campaign of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission’s advocacy engagement to the traditional rulers in the state.
The program is aimed at creating awareness on the Commission’s mandate, its ongoing initiatives, and the role of traditional leaders in promoting gender equality and child protection across Plateau State.
The discussions focused on key social challenges, including child molestation, child labour, rape, female disinheritance (often rooted in cultural practices), abandonment of parental responsibilities, sale of children, and the growing concern over unregulated surrogacy.
Responding, the Chairman, Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, commended the Commission for its consistent efforts in protecting vulnerable groups.
He acknowledged the importance of such advocacy in restoring dignity and social harmony in the State, and assured the Commission of the Council’s full cooperation.