Summary
What if a child’s silence is mistaken for consent—and tradition or family reputation is put ahead of that child’s safety? In When Childhood Is Stolen, Cyril Mayowa Ajibolade examines how abuse, neglect, poverty, family pressure, harmful practices, and child marriage can disrupt a child’s safety, education, and future. The book explores physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; why some children remain silent; and how culture, religious authority, gender inequality, and economic hardship can shape decisions affecting children. With a focus on Nigeria’s child-protection challenges, it invites readers to question harmful practices without condemning entire families, cultures, or faiths. Parents, teachers, caregivers, community and religious leaders, and others who work with children will find questions and practical guidance for listening to children, responding to concerns, and putting their wellbeing first. A call to listen, believe, and protect. Let childhood remain childhood.