CHALLENGES IN PRIORITIZING THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD IN CHILD PROTECTION

Theresa E. Atakpo, Augustine O. Owhe-Ureghe

Abstract


Violence against children is a violation of the Child Rights Act and other Conventions governing the rights of children, and the effects of prolonged physical and emotional abuse on a child's cognitive development threaten the proper mental and physical development of the child and, in some cases, the child's survival. Despite the efforts made by the government and non-governmental organizations to protect children, the incidence of child abuse is still on the rise. This study is aimed at identifying challenges and key considerations in prioritizing the best interests of the child in child protection in Nigeria. Two research questions and a hypothesis were raised and formulated for the study. The population of the study consisted of respondents selected from three (3) states in three (3) geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Delta representing the south-south geopolitical zone, Lagos state and Kogi state representing South West and North Central respectively. A sample of 1,120 respondents, which comprised all stakeholders in child protection (parents, educators, health workers and others), was drawn from the total population. Results from the analysis of the data collected using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) revealed that different cultural/traditional practices may harm the well-being of the child. Other factors affecting prioritizing the best interest of the child in child protection in Nigeria, as identified, include corruption, lack of accountability, and insufficient training of child protection personnel, among others. The study recommends, among others, a strong political will and commitment to child protection.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


challenges, prioritizing, best interest, child protection

Full Text:

PDF

References


Agbonika J. A. (2014). Delay in the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: Issues from a Nigerian Viewpoint, Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization (26), p.130-138. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234649906.pdf

Atakpo T. (2024). Digital natives and digitalization for building the future of early childhood education in Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) Vol 8, No 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8110280

Atakpo T. E. (2020). Early childhood developmental experience as a tool for combating future security challenges in Nigeria. Journal of Educational and Social Research, vol 10, No. 1. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2020-0073.

Donovan, B. M. and Burns, M. (Eds) (2021). Eager to learn: Educating our preschoolers, Committee on Early Childhood Pedagogy, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington. Retrieved from https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9745/eager-to-learn-educating-our-preschoolers

Eastern College (2022). What are the duties of a child and youth care worker. https://www.easterncollege.ca

Edwin, A. E. (2000). Educational opportunity for the Nigerian child: In Obinaju, Q.I. The Nigerian Child! His Education in a Sociological and Psychological Environment. Ivy Press Limited, Lagos.

Egwunatum, B. N. and Atakpo, T. E. (2025). Exploring effective management strategies for improving early childhood education in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS), Vol 10 No 1. https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.1001029

Federal Government of Nigeria (2023). Nigeria's Path to Vision 2030 on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Ghani, S. (2005). What is a social worker? Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-a-social-worker

Ilodibe S. I. and Chimeric N. G. (2020). Review of the Best Interest of a Child's Custody in Nigeria, International Journal of Advanced Research 8(8), 358-376. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/11501

Noel, S. (2010). The best interests of children: an evidence-based approach, University of Toronto Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/9781442697737

Obinaju Q. I. (2000). The Nigerian child: His Education in a sociological and psychological environment. Lagos, Ivy Press Limited. Retrieved from https://www.afrithings.net/product/the-nigerian-child-his-education-in-a-sociological-and-psychological-environment/?srsltid=AfmBOoptK9nIuUqIfC6SQjEs9DgikWuI_mmXldX-jN1eQoJH2eogxycA

Osanyin, F. N. (2002). Early childhood education in Nigeria, Lagos, Concepts Publications.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i5.5972

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Theresa E. Atakpo, Augustine O. Owhe-Ureghe

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2015-2026. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).