As part of the activities scheduled for the inter semester break, the Seminary community held a workshop on the theme: “Safeguarding the Rights of Minors in the Southwest of Nigeria”. This workshop was organized by a team of Pan-African Theology and Pastoral Network, which comprise of Sr. Florence Oso, Rev. Fr. Daniel Koumah, Sr. Theresa Olaniyan and Sr. Natalia Ajayi. It was aimed at sensitizing seminarians on their duties to respect, protect and help vulnerable children, especially street children, from the various forms of abuses that are prevalent in the world, which threaten the future of the world (since children are future leaders).

They defined a minor as one who is under the age of legal competence; any person (male or female) under the age of eighteen. They also defined street children as homeless children, that is, children who survive on the streets. This phenomenon could be caused by parental abject poverty, unemployment, urbanization, natural disaster, consistent wars, etc. These children are easy targets of abuses, such as: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse or emotional and psychological abuse.

Furthermore, they highlighted the great importance of children because they are the leaders of tomorrow. They buttressed this fact by quoting various scriptural passages where Jesus showed love and concern for children. They strongly emphasized that children’s rights must be protected; children must be treated fairly and must not suffer discrimination. Finally, they gave some recommendations with which the Church can help street children.

After the talk, the seminarians were divided into groups and held discussions on specific topics bordering on children’s rights and how to protect them. Sequel to this, the outcome of the groups discussions were presented at the auditorium, where everyone converged. The questions and contributions of the seminarians bore testimony to the fact that it was indeed an enlightening and apt program.