MHI commends NACTAL, calls for strengthened partnerships to protect Nigerian Children

The Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI) has commended the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) for hosting a successful One-Day Official Visit and Consultative Meeting with its National President in Kano State.

The Executive Director of the initiative, Samuel Solomon, who was among the key participants at the gathering held at the Civil Society Organisation for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria (CS-CRIN) Office, Kano, was honoured to have received her Membership Certificates during the event, formalizing MHI’s commitment to the fight against child trafficking, abuse, and labour in Nigeria.

MHI appreciates NACTAL’s dedication to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. The consultative meeting provided a vital platform for civil society organizations to align strategies, share experiences, and strengthen the collective response to the growing challenges of child exploitation in Nigeria. We commend NACTAL’s leadership for their unwavering commitment to advocacy, policy influence, and grassroots engagement, and we acknowledge the importance of subnational engagement in addressing issues that affect children at the community level.

The reality is stark: children across Nigeria continue to face trafficking, abuse, hazardous labour, and exploitation, robbing them of their dignity, education, and future. As an organization that has responded to school violence, abduction crises, and child rights violations, MHI understands that no single organization can address this crisis alone.

We call on all stakeholders—government agencies, civil society organizations, international partners, traditional institutions, and communities—to strengthen coordination and information sharing to identify and respond to child protection cases swiftly; invest in prevention programmes that address root causes including poverty, illiteracy, and lack of access to justice; ensure accountability for perpetrators through full implementation of the Child Rights Act; empower communities to become first-line defenders of children’s rights; and provide comprehensive support for survivors including psychosocial care, education, and reintegration services.

At the heart of MHI’s mission is the conviction that every life matters and deserves relevance. Our participation in NACTAL’s programme reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind, no child is trafficked, no child is abused, and no child is exploited. When we protect children, we are not just saving individuals—we are building a future for Nigeria.

We extend our deepest gratitude to NACTAL for the membership recognition and for creating a space where organizations like MHI can contribute to the national conversation on child protection. We look forward to deepening our partnership with NACTAL and all stakeholders committed to this cause.

MHI invites governments, international development partners, civil society organizations, and community-based organizations to join us in expanding access to child protection services in underserved communities; strengthening community-based mechanisms for preventing and responding to child exploitation; supporting advocacy and policy engagement at state and federal levels; and empowering survivors through education, skills training, and livelihood support. Together, we can ensure that every child in Nigeria grows up in safety, dignity, and hope.