Lagos State government hails Cece Yara foundation as it launches advocacy centre

On the 19th of March 2017, the Cece Yara Foundation officially opened its new, ultramodern state of the art Child Advocacy Centre at No 2A Akin Ogunma

On the 19th of March 2017, the Cece Yara Foundation officially opened its new, ultramodern state of the art Child Advocacy Centre at No 2A Akin Ogunmade Street Gbagada phase 2. The event opened with a short press conference, where Mrs Bola Tinubu, Mrs Grace Keteve Assistant Director Cece Yara Foundation and Mrs Lola Vivour Adeniyi, Coordinator Domestic Sexual violence response team (DSVRT) spoke about the foundation and its achievements thus far.

The press conference and brief address to various dignitaries and guests was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony headed by the Director of Education Lagos State, Mrs Kehinde Azume, representing the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, the wife of the Minister of Works and Power, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, Senator Oluremi Tinubu ably represented by the Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, Acting head of service, Adesoye Folasade, and the Director Office of the Public defence Olubukola Rotimi.

The dignitaries, guests, and media personnel were given a tour of the state of art facility, and introduced to the in house team that handles the incoming cases to the centre. Facilities within the centre include;

A private calming room furnished with toys, games, and other age appropriate furniture where the children can play.
A forensic interview room is available where the child can make disclosures without the fear of being heard by their parents.
An observation room where the children in the forensic interview room can be closely monitored and observed by the parents, trained counsellors, police, psychologist and medical experts behind the one way mirrors.
A medical examination room where preliminary tests can be carried out to verify the claim of abuse.

Built to effectively accommodate children, and adolescents, the centre will cater to the physical, mental and psychological, needs of sexually abused children and also helping them and their families through the process of healing and rehabilitation. The Cece Yara advocacy centre also offers legal advice and support to survivors and their families. Being a first of its kind in Nigeria, the centre provides a warm and child friendly environment where children can speak and express themselves freely in order for them to give as best a description of what transpired to their parents, counselors and investigators.

The Cece Yara foundation and advocacy centre are a well thought out cause, aimed at especially catering to those in the grass root regions who do not have the ability to seek or get the help they need. The centre caters for the needs of children regardless of the age at which the abuse occurred, and also those who are adults now and were abused as children and are seeking counselling.

Other important dignitaries present are Ceo Oando Plc Wale Tinubu, Mrs Lola Vivour Adeniyi coordinator of domestic sexual violence response team (DSVRT) and Ronke Soyinbo director general quality assurance Ministry of Education.