Both Ends Believing (BEB), an international non-profit organization, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Plateau State Government and partner organizations to strengthen the child protection system through technology, capacity building and policy support.
Country Director of BEB, Silas Gyang, restated this on Friday during the Plateau State Data Review and Debrief Meeting held in Jos.
Gyang said the organisation’s mission is driven by a vision where “every child grows up in a safe, loving family.” He added that safety and love must go hand in hand.
“We emphasize ‘safe’ and ‘loving’ because those two are not automatically the same. We want to be sure that the children we support are growing in environments that truly protect them,” he said.
He recalled that Plateau State was the first in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEB and the Association of Orphanages and Home Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON) to create digital identities for children in orphanages across the state.
“Across the country, Plateau State was the first to sign a memorandum with us,” Gyang noted.
He explained that BEB, founded in 2010 and active in Nigeria since November 2022, entered the country through a partnership with ASOHON, a collaboration he described as “meaningful and impactful.”
Gyang said the organisation is now operational in almost every state except Taraba, Kogi, Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto. So far, BEB has covered 231 orphanages—referred to globally as childcare institutions—and documented 7,140 children, an average of 22 per facility.
He highlighted the significance of the Children First Software, calling it a vital tool in strengthening child protection systems.
“The Children First Software is a web-based platform developed by our foundation and given to the government free of charge,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Plateau State Government, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Caroline Dafur, said the gathering underscores a collective commitment to advancing child protection and strengthening the data systems that support vulnerable children.
Represented by Rebecca Shaseet, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, she described the MoU as “a promise to ensure that every vulnerable child in Plateau State is seen, documented, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.”
She commended BEB for its technical assistance and for donating computers, printers and working closely with the state as it modernizes its child protection systems.
Earlier, Mrs. Sandra Chikan, National Northern Vice President of ASOHON, stressed that credible data remains central to improving childcare and driving reforms.
“Data is one of the main keys to unlocking care systems and care reforms for children. Without it, many of us may just be running around in circles. With it, we’ll see the gaps, the work done, and the potential each of us has to impact even more for our children,” she said.