The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has issued a stern warning to orphanage homes in the state against placing children for adoption without notifying the government.
Adeleye emphasized that orphanages do not have the legal authority to give out children for adoption and warned that anyone found doing so would face strict legal consequences.
Addressing journalists at her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the commissioner stated that any adoption process carried out without the approval of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is invalid and could be considered an act of child trafficking or kidnapping.
She disclosed that the state government had revoked licenses of private homes over sharp practices and irregularities, but over 30 reapplied after fulfilling the requirements.
“At some point this year we had to revoke all licenses of private homes because we discovered that there are sharp practices going on, even between some staff in the ministry and some private homes.
“They all had to come back after due diligence being done on them to reapply. No home, no orphanage, no private home has the power or the authority to put a child up for adoption without coming to the Ministry of Women Affairs.
