CRC/C/NGA/CO/3-4 the federation other than the three major local languages (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) and to ensure their wide dissemination and popularization, especially in rural communities. In light of article 17, paragraphs (a) and (d), of the Convention, the Committee encourages the active involvement of media. Cooperation with civil society 23. The Committee welcomes the State party’s indication that state institutions work in close collaboration with civil society organizations in furthering the implementation of children’s rights, as witnessed in the participatory process during the preparation of the State party’s report. The Committee is concerned, however, of the reliance of the State party on civil society organizations in the provision of social services of the Convention, notably in the fields of child care and education, which may affect the responsibility of State party as the primary duty-bearer for the realization of the rights guaranteed under the Convention. 24. The Committee encourages the State party to further strengthen its cooperation with civil society in enhancing the protection and promotion of human rights in the State party, including their participation in the implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations. 25. While acknowledging the important role played by non-governmental actors in the provision of services for children, the State party is nevertheless recommended to undertake a comprehensive review of their involvement in the provision of core social services for children, including the running of child care institutions and education. The Committee reminds the State party of its obligation to ensure that non-State service providers operate in accordance with the Convention (general comment No. 5 (2003) on general measures of implementation, para. 44). In this regard, the State party is strongly encouraged to establish a system of continuous monitoring and evaluation of social services provided by private entities for children, including by elaborating appropriate standards (see the Committee’s day of general discussion on The private sector as service provider and its role in implementing child rights (2002)). Definition of the child (art. 1 of the Convention) 26. While noting that the Child Rights Act defines the child in accordance with the Convention and establishes the legal minimum age of marriage at 18 years, the Committee notes with serious concern that the definition of the child in some legislation domesticating the Child Rights Act at state level sets the age at 16 years (Akwa-Ibom state) or defines the child not by age but by “puberty” (Jigwa state), reportedly for the purposes of early marriages. The Committee also reiterates the earlier concern expressed in 2005 about the wide variety of minimum ages that are very low at state level (CRC/C/15/Add.257, para. 27). 27. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that the definition of the child in legislation domesticating the Child Rights Act at state level is in full compliance with that of the Convention, including by amending the recently adopted Child Rights Laws in Akwa-Ibom and Jigwa states. To this end, the Committee urges the State party to intensify its ongoing dialogue with traditional and religious leaders and state authorities to enhance the understanding of the importance of conceptualizing persons under the age of 18 as children with special rights and needs guaranteed under the Convention. The State party is recommended to use the example of the recent polio eradication campaign in this respect. 6