The Ogun State Government has revoked the provisional licenses of 20 private orphanages operating in the state due to their failure to comply with regulations and laws that prioritize the well-being and safety of vulnerable children in their care.
The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, made this announcement on Friday during a meeting with private orphanage operators at the ministry’s conference room in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The commissioner expressed concern over the conduct of some private orphanage owners, making it clear that the state will not tolerate illegal practices such as unauthorized adoptions, child trafficking, or the mistreatment of children under their care.
She stressed that orphanages should operate with compassion, focusing on empowering and caring for vulnerable children without compromising their safety.
The current administration is committed to safeguarding children’s welfare and preventing exploitation, and orphanage operators were urged to adhere strictly to established guidelines.
The commissioner also highlighted that the primary purpose of running an orphanage is to contribute to society through humanitarian services, warning that anyone found negligent in their responsibilities would face prosecution.
Additionally, she mentioned that the ministry has improved its data collection processes to ensure accurate documentation of children brought to orphanages.
“The state government’s actions aim to protect vulnerable children and maintain the integrity of orphanage services,” she said.
“About 20 orphanages with provisional licences were affected but not all of them were involved in various sharp practices like not following due guidelines on child adoption among other contraventions”
“But we have withdrawn the provisional licences of these 20 orphanages. We want to take our time to dig deeper and ensure that they are all doing the right things”
“We have told the affected orphanages to reapply after a month and we have given additional guidelines to those with permanent licences to ensure that the standard is not compromised”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Adejumoke Adewole, said the ministry would not relent in embarking on unscheduled visitation to all orphanage homes in the state, to monitor and evaluate the activities of the owners, and ensure proper compliance with directives.
A representative of the private orphanage owners, Adeyemo Anthony, commended the state for ensuring that orphanage homes were monitored, pledging their support to work together with the government to ensure the welfare and well-being of the children in their care.
Comments are closed.