Location: Office of the Izzi LGA Chairman, Ebonyi State

Facilitators: African Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) in collaboration with the Izzi LGA GBV Taskforce

Led by: Comr. Peter Iteshi – GBV Taskforce Coordinator, Izzi LGA*

Key Stakeholders Present:

• Hon Barr. Stephen Emenike Nwankpa – Izzi LGA Coordinator/Chairman
• Traditional Rulers
• Development Coordinators
• Community and civil society stakeholders

As part of the post-policy briefing follow-up to the AFJN High-Level Policy Briefing held on April 24, 2025, at the Pastoral Centre, Abakaliki, the African Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), in collaboration with the Izzi LGA Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Taskforce, paid a courtesy and advocacy visit to the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Hon Barr. Stephen Emenike Nwankpa. The purpose of the visit was to reinforce the collective commitment to ending child early and forced marriage and domestic servitude in the LGA, and to promote the implementation of community protection measures discussed during the April policy meeting.

During the engagement, the team presented the urgent need for:

• Full enforcement of the Child Rights Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in Izzi LGA
• Operationalising and resourcing Community-Based Monitoring Systems (CMS) to ensure timely reporting and intervention in cases of child exploitation
• Support and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) developed by stakeholders for child protection in Ebonyi State

In response, Chairman Barr. Nwankpa warmly welcomed the team and commended AFJN and partners for initiating a timely and impactful intervention. He emphasized his administration’s readiness to collaborate closely with AFJN to develop a localized legislative bill aimed at eliminating child marriage and domestic servitude in Izzi LGA.

The Chairman further:

• Assured his co-sponsorship of child protection programs in the LGA
• Requested a follow-up planning meeting at his office to develop a comprehensive strategy
• Stressed that no child should be relocated or placed in servitude without proper documentation, safeguarding their welfare and traceability

This meeting marks a significant milestone in building strong political will and traditional leadership buy-in for child protection efforts in Izzi LGA.