Children Parliament, Kwara State chapter, has urged the state government to establish a Child Protection Centre to check the menace of child abuse in line with the Child Rights Law.

The parliamentarians made the call at the weekend during the special sitting of the 3rd Session of Children Parliament, organised by the Kwara State Ministry of Women  Affairs at the Stella Obasanjo Multipurpose Centre, Ilorin,  the state capital.

Speaking, the Speaker, Kwara State Children Parliament, Master Yusuf Abdulmalik, appealed to the government and relevant stakeholders to rise to the occasion by putting necessary measures in place aimed at eradicating all forms of child abuse from the society.

In its Notice of Motion signed by the Deputy Majority Leader, Master Ajanaku Mubaraq, the House ''observed with dismay that despite the passage of the Child Rights Law and the Universal Basic Education (UBE) law by the government at various levels, the menace of child abuse is still rampant in our society''.

The house therefore submitted that ''the state government should intensify efforts at ensuring effective implementation of the laws that protect children from abuses.
''A legal instrument should be put in place to protect children from online abuse.
''Relevant security agencies should be called upon to ensure aggressive implementation of the relevant laws on child abuse.

''The state government should establish a child protection centre (shelter centre as in Abuja) where children who are not well taken care of are withdrawn from their parents and placed under government care as stipulated by the Child Rights Law.

The centre will also serve as temporary abode for children who were trafficked before they are repatriated to their family'', the notice stated.

Speaking with newsmen on the occasion, the Commissioner, State Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajia Ramat Adeshina Abaya, observed that the problem of child abuse has become a point of discussion for the entire society.

While commending the Children Parliament as a direct effort to involve children in nation building, the commissioner reiterated the need to encourage children participation in all facets of life.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Kikelomo Amasa, stated that children should be change agents with a voice to speak out their fears and concerns, even as she affirmed the ministry's intention to set up Child Rights clubs in various schools in the state.