The Lagos State Government has launched a five-day child protection campaign targeting more than 1,500 children across the state's six education districts, with a renewed call for schools, parents and communities to respond appropriately when children report abuse.

The initiative, organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), began on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board Hall in Maryland.

The campaign, themed "My Silence Ends Here," will run until Friday, September 25, with activities focused on helping children recognise unsafe situations and speak up when they experience or witness abuse.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said creating safe environments for children requires more than encouraging them to report abuse.

She explained that adults and institutions must also be prepared to listen, take complaints seriously and respond appropriately when children disclose concerns about their safety.

According to Vivour-Adeniyi, the campaign is designed to strengthen awareness of child protection and encourage children to report situations in which they feel unsafe.

The programme includes interactive sessions intended to help participating children understand safeguarding and the importance of seeking assistance from trusted adults.

The government said activities would take place across the six education districts in Lagos, extending the campaign beyond the opening ceremony in Maryland.

The initiative is expected to engage more than 1,500 children, although the government has not announced a final participation figure.

The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hakeem Shittu, also emphasised the responsibility of schools to protect pupils and respond to warning signs of abuse.

Shittu called for closer cooperation between educational institutions, families, communities and relevant government agencies.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that children have access to safe learning environments and that reports concerning their welfare receive appropriate attention.

The Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described child protection as a collective responsibility involving government institutions, schools, parents and communities.

She urged children to speak up whenever they felt unsafe and encouraged adults to take responsibility for protecting them.

The opening ceremony also featured interactive activities, artistic presentations, music, dance and a pledge ceremony.

According to the organisers, the programme forms part of the state's wider efforts to prevent domestic and sexual violence and strengthen safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable people.

The latest campaign follows other child protection activities undertaken by the DSVA, including school engagement programmes and awareness initiatives directed at parents, caregivers and educational institutions.

For schools participating in the programme, the government is emphasising the need to ensure that children can report abuse without fear and that disclosures are handled responsibly.

The campaign is an awareness and safeguarding initiative, not an announcement that 1,500 cases of child abuse have occurred.

The number refers to children the government expects to engage during the five-day programme.

Activities are scheduled to continue across Lagos' education districts until Friday, September 25.