Nigeria Content Online

Cassava
Republic, in association with Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN), a
non-governmental organisation involved in efforts to sensitise the
public about child rights issues in Nigeria, is releasing a children’s
book on ‘child witches’. ‘Eno’s story’, a book written by Ayodele
Olofintuade and illustrated by Bolaji Liadi, is expected to be launched
in September.

‘Eno’s Story’ is
the story of a young girl who lives happily with her father until the
day he disappears in an accident. Eno’s uncle accuses her of being the
“witch” who has supposedly caused her father’s death. Subsequently, the
young girl goes through many struggles before moving in with other
children who have also been stigmatised as “witches” and sent away from
their homes.

The moving story of
Eno incorporates humour, while depicting the sad story of child rights
abuse and the protagonist’s courage in making the best of a difficult
situation. Targeted at young readers, Eno’s story is intended to
educate children about how organisations can help endangered youngsters
who find themselves in situations such as those faced by Eno in the
book.

SSN has also
partnered with director, Teco Benson to produce ‘The Fake Prophet’, a
film about unscrupulour church leaders stigmatising children as
‘witches’. The film was exclusively screened at the Korean Cultural
Center, Abuja, last week.

Gary Foxcroft, Programme Director of Stepping Stones Nigeria,
emphasised the need to train judicial, executive and social welfare
teams on child rights issues, adding that “There is also a great need
for the Federal Government to further strengthen its cooperation with
civil society in enhancing the protection and promotion of child
rights.”