African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Nigeria Chapter
- Founded
- 1986-01-01 in Enugu, Nigeria
- Headquarters
- Enugu, Nigeria
The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Nigeria Chapter is the Nigerian national branch of a pan-African child rights network founded in 1986 in Enugu, Nigeria. It works to reduce child abuse and neglect across Nigeria by raising awareness, advocating for policy change, and implementing community-based programmes. The chapter runs school and community child rights clubs, monitoring centres for violations, a Children's Parliament, theatre for development, and social therapy services. It holds observer status with the African Union and helped lobby for the ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Operating under the ANPPCAN umbrella, the Nigeria Chapter collaborates with 26 chapters across Africa and participates in research, documentation, capacity building, and direct child protection interventions. Its mission is to foster an environment that maximizes children's creative potential while protecting their rights. The chapter's founding at the 1986 Child Labour Conference underscores its deep Nigerian roots, and it also contributed to the formulation of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. Through its initiatives, the chapter engages children directly, empowering them to advocate for their own rights, and works with professionals to provide legal aid via the Children's Legal Action Network.
Detailed Review
History
ANPPCAN was founded in 1986 in Enugu, Nigeria, at the first Child Labour Conference. The Nigeria Chapter is one of 26 national chapters of the pan-African network. The founding location underscores the deep Nigerian roots of the movement, which has since expanded across the continent.
Programmatic Areas
The chapter’s activities are anchored in four broad areas: research, documentation and monitoring; networking and establishment of chapters; capacity building; and child protection. Specific programme areas include child trafficking, child prostitution, education, child labour, community child protection systems, and support to children in emergencies. The chapter operates through community-level structures such as child help desks offering psychosocial support services and referrals, as well as District Child Labour Committees (DCLCs) and other local teams.
Notable Achievements
The broader ANPPCAN, with the Nigeria Chapter’s involvement, contributed to the development, lobbying, and ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The network also contributed to the formulation and ratification of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Nigeria Chapter holds observer status with the African Union (since 1990) and with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, providing formal recognition and access to AU processes. It collaborates with other child protection actors under the Global March against Child Labour and helped establish the Children’s Legal Action Network (CLAN), which provides free legal services to children.
Community Engagement
The chapter runs school and community child rights clubs that educate children and communities about child rights and empower children to advocate for themselves. It uses theatre for development to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect, and implements social therapy and counselling programmes. The Neighbourhood Assembly model facilitates community dialogue on child protection, and the Children’s Parliament enables children to participate in democratic processes. The Milk Action initiative focuses on nutrition and early childhood care.
Digital Presence
The chapter’s original dedicated website (anppcannigeria.com) is no longer active, and the main ANPPCAN website provides only broad regional information with no dedicated Nigeria sub-page. The most detailed public profiles come from the netzkraft.net listing and the Child Abuse Library Online (CALiO) entry. Despite limited public digital presence, the chapter remains active through partnerships and community structures.
Key Products
Research, Documentation and Monitoring
Operational research on child abuse patterns and trends.
Capacity Building
Training for professionals (teachers, police, medical staff, community councils) on child protection best practices.
Networking and Chapter Establishment
Efforts to strengthen and expand the child protection network across Nigeria and Africa.
School and Community Child Rights Clubs
Clubs that educate children and communities about child rights and empower children to advocate for themselves.
Regional and National Monitoring Centres for Child Rights and Violations
Centres that track and document child rights abuses to inform advocacy and policy.
Children’s Parliament
A platform enabling children to participate in democratic processes and voice their concerns on child protection issues.
Milk Action
An initiative likely focused on nutrition and early childhood care.
Theatre for Development
A participatory method using drama to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect in communities.
Neighbourhood Assembly
A community-level dialogue and decision-making forum for child protection.
Social Therapy / Counselling
Psychosocial support services provided through child help desks and referrals to appropriate care centres.
Key Persons
- Chimezie Elekwachi
Speaker