The Roles of the African Church in Stopping Child Abuse in Logo Local Government Area, of Benue State Nigeria.

The African Church plays a crucial role in addressing child abuse in the Logo Local Government Area of
Benue State. Through advocacy, education, providing safe spaces, collaboration, and offering spiritual
support, the Church can make significant strides in protecting children. Despite existing challenges,
concerted efforts and strategic partnerships can help the Church in creating a safer and more nurturing
environment for children in the region. By leveraging its influence and resources, the African Church can
be a powerful force in the fight against child abuse, ensuring that every child in Logo Local Government
Area has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and supportive environment. The Church should strengthen
partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to combine resources and
expertise, leading to more effective and sustainable child protection programs. Child abuse encompasses
any behavior that neglects the child’s survival and development needs, causes physical or emotional injury,
or subjects the child to situations and experiences that interfere with healthy development. Children in Logo
Local Government Area are particularly vulnerable to activities such as street or highway hawking,
exploitative labour, domestic help, street begging, girl-child marriage, illiteracy, and female genital
mutilation. Although child abuse has been persistent, Christian churches, particularly those in Nigeria, have
taken bold steps to address the problem through preaching, public sensitization, and the establishment of
motherless babies’ homes. In researching this matter, both primary and secondary sources were utilized,
including personal interviews as primary sources and published and unpublished works on the issue of child
abuse in Nigeria as secondary sources. The research recommends, among other things, that churches should
partner with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to combine resources and
expertise. Continuous training for church leaders, teachers, and community members is crucial, and
engaging the broader community in child protection efforts is essential. Additionally, the Church should
actively participate in policy advocacy to strengthen legal frameworks and ensure the enforcement of child
protection laws. It is believed that the implementation of these measures could properly address the problem
of child abuse in Nigeria.