Although he was not directly linked to the alleged offences, he was charged alongside the others. Even more troubling, despite being a child, Salam was processed as an adult and remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in June 2025.

According to the police, Salam stated that he was over 18 years old. Yet there was no meaningful effort to verify his age, despite clear safeguards under the Child Rights Law of Lagos State designed to protect children in conflict with the law. He was questioned without a parent, guardian or lawyer present, and was subsequently detained in an adult prison

For 8 months, Salam remained in Kirikiri from June 2025 to February 2026.

It was only after his older brother emailed the Child Rights & Juvenile Justice Center (CRJJC) in February 2026 seeking urgent assistance that the situation began to change.

Our team immediately requested documents to verify Salam’s age, confirmed his next court date, and appeared in court to represent him. We ensured that his birth certificate and LASSRA ID Card were placed before the court.

The Magistrate observed that Salam appeared youthful and accepted that he had been wrongly remanded in an adult correctional facility. The court consequently ordered his immediate transfer to the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun (SCCB), the institution where he ought to have been placed from the outset.

Salam’s case raises important questions.

How does a child end up in a maximum security prison for adults simply because his age was not properly verified? Why was this not identified earlier by the investigating authorities or the prosecution? And how many other children remain in the wrong facilities because no one has raised the alarm?

At CRJJC, our intervention did not end with securing Salam’s transfer. We continue to represent him throughout the ongoing criminal proceedings, ensuring that his rights are protected and that he receives the fair treatment every child is entitled to under the law.

This case is a reminder that child justice is not merely about prosecuting offences. It is about recognising childhood, applying the law correctly, and ensuring that administrative errors or indifference do not expose children to unnecessary harm.

No child should spend even one day in an adult prison because the system failed to ask the right questions.

That is why CRJJC exists.

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Support CRJJC

Since November 2022, CRJJC has provided pro bono legal services to over fifty (50) children and juveniles in centers across Lagos and Ogun state. Your generous contributions empower CRJJC to champion justice for every child, conduct public education in children’s correctional centres, and achieve meaningful outcomes for vulnerable children. With your help, we continue to strengthen our efforts through research, public awareness campaigns, and coalition building across Nigeria.

Join us in creating lasting change by donating to Zenith Bank Plc: 1015972986 (TOKAN Foundation) or via Paystack. https://paystack.com/pay/tokanfoundation

For legal assistance, email crjjc@tokanfoundation.com or message us on social media.

Together, let’s protect children and champion justice.

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About CRJJC

The Child Rights and Juvenile Justice Center (CRJJC), registered as the Child Rights and Juvenile Advocacy Center with CAC/IT/No/193337, is the legal services arm of  TOKAN Foundation for Children and Young People. We provide legal support to children and juveniles in Nigeria. Our wholistic approach to child rights advocacy and juvenile justice helps to ensure that children and juveniles receive needed support in and out of the court room.

For more information about TOKAN Foundation and CRJJC, or to discuss other ways you can support our work, please reach out to us at crjjc@tokanfoundation.com, and engage with us on social media.

The post CRJJC Case Report: Salam’s Story – A Child Lost in the Adult Prison System appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

Throughout the past week, the TOKAN Foundation team carried out school monitoring and welfare visits across Lagos to check on the academic progress and well-being of the children we support.

On Saturday, 21st June, our Ms Mobola attended the Open Day/Visiting Day of 19 student beneficiaries at Let It Shine Academy (LISA) in Ajah, engaging with teachers and school officials to discuss the progress and welfare of our beneficiaries.

On Tuesday, 24th June, our Ms Mobola also visit 3 student beneficiaries across two schools in Isheri to observe them in their everyday learning environment and gain first-hand insight into their academic and social development.

On the same day, our Ms Tope visited 9 student beneficiaries across three schools in Yaba, continuing our commitment to maintaining close relationships with our beneficiaries, their teachers, and their schools.

These visits are an important part of our work, allowing us to celebrate achievements, identify areas where additional support may be needed, and ensure that every child continues to thrive.

At TOKAN Foundation, our support doesn’t end with paying school fees, we remain present every step of the journey.

3rd Term Fundraiser

As the 3rd Term continues, support is urgently needed to sustain ongoing educational and welfare interventions for our beneficiaries. We welcome donations and partnerships via:

TOKAN Foundation

Zenith Bank Plc

Account Number: 1015972986

Or online: https://paystack.com/pay/tokanfoundation

We also welcome collaborations from individuals, businesses, religious organisations, and institutions who share our vision.

The post June 2026 School Monitoring and Welfare Visits appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

Eight years ago, what started with a simple belief: that every child deserves a chance to dream, learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

What began as a small effort to support children in need has grown into a community of donors, volunteers, partners, advocates, and supporters united by a shared vision: a world where no child is denied a future of possibilities.

Over the last eight years, we have had the privilege of walking alongside over a thousand children, many of whom joined our programmes at very young ages. We have watched them grow through primary school, transition into secondary school, sit for national examinations, and graduate into the next stages of their lives.

The growth of TOKAN Foundation over the last eight years has been remarkable. What began in 2018 with less than ₦100,000 (about $73.47) spent per school term has grown into an organization that now invests as much as ₦6,000,000 (about $4,408) per term in educational support: school fees, lesson fees, daily lunch stipend, school supplies, national examinations registration and preparation lesson fee. Also for welfare, medical, and legal support for vulnerable children.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, sponsors, partners, and volunteers, we have distributed hundreds of school bags, notebooks, text books and pairs of school shoes, alongside thousands of other educational and welfare items, reaching over 1,000 children.

For us, education is more than paying school fees. It is about creating an environment where children can focus on learning, develop confidence, and build a future for themselves.

Alongside educational support, we have continued to invest in the health and wellbeing of the children under our care. Through our collaboration with Drug Aid Africa, we have provided medical supplies to all five children’s correctional centres across Lagos State, ensuring that children have access to essential medications and healthcare support.

Our medical interventions have gone beyond the donation of supplies. Over the years, TOKAN Foundation has funded medical consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, medications, and emergency healthcare needs for beneficiaries requiring urgent care.

One of our proudest milestones was the creation of the Child Rights and Juvenile Justice Centre (CRJJC) in 2022, born from a growing need we witnessed among children in conflict with the law. Through CRJJC, children who would otherwise have faced the justice system alone gained access to legal representation, advocacy, and support. Children who had spent years in correctional facilities without legal assistance found advocates willing to fight for their rights, their freedom, and their future. Beyond legal representation, CRJJC has worked tirelessly to educate children about their rights and child justice administration through its “Know Your Rights” initiative.

In October 2025, we extended our reach beyond Lagos State to the National Borstal Institution in Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State, further expanding our commitment to supporting vulnerable children wherever the need exists.

We have also recognized that every child deserves the opportunity to discover and develop their talents. For children with interests in sports and recreational activities, we have provided opportunities to participate in activities such as Frisbee training, football development programmes, chess, ludo, and other mind-building and confidence-building activities. Some beneficiaries have gone on to receive professional football training through enrolment in football academies, while others continue to develop strategic thinking and teamwork through recreational programmes.

As we celebrate eight years of impact, we remain as committed as ever to our mission. The challenges facing vulnerable children are still significant, but so is our determination.

For eight years, we have shown up for children.

To every child whose journey has intersected with ours, thank you for trusting us to walk alongside you.

To every supporter who has helped make this work possible, thank you for believing in our vision.

Together, we have spent eight years changing lives.

Together, we will continue building futures.

Happy 8th Anniversary, TOKAN Foundation for children and young people.

The best chapters are still ahead.

The post Celebrating 8 Years of TOKAN Foundation appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

On Friday, 1st of May 2026, the TOKAN Foundation Team delivered school supplies to the boys at Correctional Centre for Junior Boys (CCJB), Birrel and Correctional Center for Senior Boys (CCSB), Isheri, as part of our continued commitment to educational continuity and child welfare.

Items delivered included:

• Textbooks

• Pens and Pencils

• Calculators

• Socks

• Belts

• Underwear

• Toiletries

Beyond these supplies, TOKAN Foundation continues to support the children in CCJB, CCSB, and Children’s Correctional Center for Girls Idi Araba (CCCG) throughout the school term through payment of school fees, lesson fees, lunch stipends, and other welfare support to ensure they remain focused, comfortable, and ready to learn.

We also provide pro bono legal services to children at the Special Correctional Center for Girls Idi Araba (SCCG) and the Special Correctional Center for Boys, Oregun (SCCB) through the Child Rights and Juvenile Justice Center (CRJJC).

Because every child deserves the right tools, support, and opportunity to succeed.

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The post Distribution of School Supplies for the 3rd Term – 2025/2026 Academic Year appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

It was a highly interactive and engaging session as the Boys actively participated in insightful discussions on their rights, child justice administration, and access to legal protection.

To make learning more fun and memorable, interactive games such as “Picasso Me” and “Be My Lawyer” were played, with winners rewarded with gifts. Children who correctly answered questions during the session were also gifted, creating an atmosphere of excitement and active participation.

We remain committed to empowering children with the knowledge they need to understand and exercise their rights.

A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers and partners whose continued support makes these impactful sessions possible.

The post CRJJC hosts Know Your Rights Initiative at SCCB appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

Access to technology is an important part of learning and personal development. These laptops will support educational activities and provide the children with additional tools for learning and skill building.

We remain grateful to our donor whose generosity made this possible. Partnerships and acts of kindness like this help us continue creating opportunities for the children and young people we support.

At TOKAN Foundation, every contribution goes a long way in shaping brighter futures.

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TOKAN Foundation for Children and Young People is a registered charity dedicated to providing financial, educational, and social wellness support to vulnerable children and young people across Nigeria, and legal support through the Child Rights and Juvenile Justice Center (“CRJJC”).

You can support by donating to: TOKAN Foundation Account No. 1015972986 (Zenith Bank Plc) or via https://paystack.com/pay/tokanfoundation

For more information, please reach out to us at hello@tokanfoundation.com or on social media.

The post Donation of laptops to CCCG and CCJB in Lagos appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

Our Programme & Operations Associate is regularly in court monitoring ongoing cases handled by CRJJC, ensuring that children in conflict with the law are not left unheard or unsupported.

Through the dedication of our volunteer lawyers, CRJJC maintains a consistent presence in court, providing pro bono legal representation and standing in the gap for children who cannot stand alone.

At every stage, we work to ensure fairness, dignity, and protection within the Child Justice System.

The Child Rights and Juvenile Justice Center (CRJJC), registered as Child Rights and Juvenile Advocacy Center with CAC/IT/No/193337, is the legal services arm of TOKAN Foundation. We provide legal support to children and juveniles in Nigeria. Our wholistic approach to child rights advocacy and juvenile justice helps to ensure that children and juveniles receive needed support in and out of the court room.

The post Monitoring CRJJC cases appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

It was an engaging and enlightening session where students learned about Child’s Rights and Child Justice Administration, gaining a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

The learning didn’t stop at discussions. The students also participated in fun activities including “Picasso Me,” where they were asked to draw the stage, with the best drawings receiving gifts. Another interactive game, “Be My Lawyer,” challenged students to think like child advocates, and the winners were also rewarded with branded CRJJC tshirts.

The session ended on a cheerful note with snacks and soft drinks, rounding off an afternoon filled with learning, creativity, and laughter.

At CRJJC, we believe that empowering young people with knowledge of their rights is a vital step toward building confident and responsible citizens.

The post CRJJC hosts Know Your Rights at the Lagos City Senior College appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

On Tuesday, 24th February, our team delivered essential drugs and medical supplies to the Special Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun (SCCB) and the Correctional Centre for Senior Boys, Isheri (CCSB). On Wednesday, 25th February, the team continued deliveries to the Correctional Centre for Junior Boys, Birrel, Yaba (CCJB), the Special Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi-Araba (SCCG), and the Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi-Araba (CCCG).

Donations included paracetamol, dewormers, antimalarials, cough syrups, amoxicillin antibiotics, antifungal and antibacterial creams, antacids, medical gloves, and gauze bandages.

These medicines and medical supplies will support the health and well-being of the children across these facilities and help ensure that common illnesses can be treated promptly. This follows our recent delivery to the Borstal Institution in Adigbe, Ogun State, on 14th February 2026.

At TOKAN Foundation, partnerships like these help us ensure that children in correctional centres receive not only education and legal support, but also the healthcare resources necessary for their well-being.

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TOKAN Foundation for Children and Young People is a registered charity dedicated to providing financial, educational, and social wellness support to vulnerable children and young people across Nigeria, and legal support through the Child Rights and Juvenile Justice Center (crjjc).

The post TOKAN Foundation and Drug Aid Africa Deliver Medical Supplies to Children’s Centres appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.

At TOKAN Foundation and the Child Rights & Juvenile Justice Centre (CRJJC), we see every day how giving creates opportunity. When we give girls access to education, mentorship, and protection under the law, they gain confidence, dignity, and the power to shape their own futures.

Through scholarships, welfare support, legal advocacy, and community education, we continue to invest in girls and young women who deserve the chance to learn, grow, and lead.

Because when we give to girls and women, we gain stronger communities, fairer systems, and a more hopeful future for everyone.

This International Women’s Day, we invite you to join us.

What will you give to gain gender equality?

Happy International Women’s Day.

The post International Women’s Day 2026: Give to Gain appeared first on TOKAN Foundation.