By Joke Kujenya
IN NIGERIA, children of incarcerated parents remain among the most overlooked victims of the justice system, facing stigma, trauma, and economic hardship.
This inspired a youth-led initiative, Hope for Children Left Behind (HfCLB), to take decisive steps to advocate for these children’s rights and welfare, shedding light on a growing humanitarian crisis.
On an eye-opening visit to Suleja Correctional Centre penultimate week, with approval from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) FCT Command, HfCLB team engaged with female inmates who are mothers, witnessing firsthand the emotional and financial struggles of these women and the uncertain fate of their children outside prison walls.
The visit was also met with support from the custodial centre’s officers, who emphasized the necessity of such programmes in preventing a generational cycle of poverty and crime.
The officials noted that while prison reforms often make headlines, little attention is given to the children left behind.
Also compounding the crisis of neglect and hardship as found by the HfCLB team is the absence of official data. This makes it difficult to quantify the number of children affected by parental incarceration in Nigeria.
However, global estimates indicate that millions of children worldwide experience severe socio-economic disadvantages due to a parent’s imprisonment.
As far back as 2018, estimated records show that about 5 million children were experiencing — or had experienced — parental incarceration.
Between 1980 and 2012, the number of children with incarcerated parents ballooned from 500,000 to more than 2.5 million.
Recent reports also estimate that over three million children of imprisoned parents reside in Council of Europe countries alone, facing challenges such as economic hardship, stigma, and strained relationships.
Towards alleviating this, international bodies, including the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Council of Europe, have acknowledged these issues, advocating for policies and interventions to safeguard the rights and well-being of these children.
Back in Nigeria, one of the female inmates (identity undisclosed) shared a heartbreaking account.
“My two children are still very young. The second day I was brought here, my husband took them to his mother in the village in Benue State, and they have stopped going to school,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
HfCLB Convener, Miss Odunayo Z. Adewale, in a passion-laden voice while speaking with JKNewsMedia.com emphasized the need for collective action.
She said: “These children have committed no crime, yet they are punished by society through neglect and stigma. It’s time we recognise their struggles and take meaningful action.”
Adewale added that while the account narrated is just one of the challenges facing these children, others include:
▪️Educational disruptions: Many lack the financial support needed to stay in school.
▪️Exposure to child labour and exploitation: Some are forced to work for survival.
▪️Homelessness and neglect: Many lack stable guardianship, making them vulnerable to abuse.
▪️Psychological trauma: Stigma and emotional distress take a toll on their mental health, among diverse others.
Adewale also spoke on the initiative’s mission and next steps.
Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, HfCLB said it has outlined a multi-faceted approach to address these challenges.
Going forward, HfCLB says the next phase involves identifying and reaching out to affected children to assess their needs and provide support with key areas of focus including, but not limited to:
▪️Educational support: With scholarships, tutoring, and mentorship programmes.
▪️Counselling and emotional well-being: Providing therapy and support systems for affected children.
▪️Stakeholder engagement: Collaborating with government agencies, including Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Non-Governmental Organisations plus Civil Society Organisations (NGO/CSOs), and community leaders to create sustainable solutions.
▪️Advocacy and awareness: HfCLB to be using media campaigns to push for policies that protect these children until it gets the idea of the country’s president for necessary actions to be taken to better the lots of these children and ensure that they are not deprived both quality education and other necessities of life.
Adewale then appealed to policymakers, the public, and humanitarian organisations to support this cause, ensuring that no child suffers due to circumstances beyond their control.
