The Lagos State Government has evoked the Child Rights Act and the Lagos State Policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection against Mrs. Stella Nwadigbo, a teacher, who assaulted a three year old pupil, Abayomi Michael.
Nwadigbo, who is a teacher at Christ Mitots Nursery and Primary School, 5, Ifelodun Street, Off Yewa Road, Isawo Agric, Ikorodu, has been arraigned for indecent treatment of the toddler and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Facility till February 18, 2025, awaiting the Director, Public Prosecution’s legal advise.
The teacher was seen assaulting the pupil in a viral video on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, aggressively smacking the child in the face repeatedly for struggling with a lesson.
The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, in its fact finding mission, visited the school, which was approved in 2010, on Thursday, January 9, 2025, but discovered it was partially self-shut down and pupils asked to stay back at home till Monday, January 13, 2025.
In her reaction, the head teacher, Mrs. B. Adeyeri, on behalf of the Proprietor, Mrs. Yomi Olutoye, confirmed the need to protect other pupils from harassments and uncontrollable visits/pressure from the public, who had been visiting the school premises for pictures/videos, which necessitated the temporary closure of the school.
Meanwhile, the assaulted toddler has been referred for adequate medical attention.
Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary, Mr. Kayode Sutton, in a statement on Friday, maintained that ‘by her action, Nwadigbo has contravened the Child Rights Act and the Lagos State Policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection, which are punishable offenses under the law.
“Albeit, investigation continues on Monday, January 13, 2025, which requires the attention of the School proprietor, Mrs. O. N. Olutoye, the Head Teacher, Mrs. B. Adeyeri, the Survivor, Master Abayomi Michael, his mother, Mrs. Okunlaya Adenike Fatimah, who is also a Teacher in the School and engagement with other pupils.”
