The Ogun State Government has revoked the provisional licenses of 20 private orphanages operating in the state due to their failure to comply with the regulations and laws that prioritize the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.
According to The PUNCH, this decision was announced by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, during a meeting held on Friday with orphanage owners at the ministry’s Conference Room in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Adeleye expressed her concern over the activities of some orphanages, emphasizing that the state would not tolerate any form of malpractice, including illegal adoptions, child trafficking, or the mistreatment of children under their care.
The commissioner underscored the importance of running orphanages with compassion and dedication to the welfare of the children, rather than engaging in activities that could jeopardize their safety.
She stressed the current administration’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children, urging orphanage operators to strictly adhere to the established guidelines.
“The essence of operating an orphanage is to give back to society through humanitarian services, and as such, anyone found wanting in the discharge of their duties would be prosecuted,” Adeleye stated, reinforcing the government’s zero-tolerance stance on non-compliance.
To further ensure transparency and accountability, the ministry has enhanced its data collection processes, aiming to accurately record and document the number of children admitted to orphanages across the state.
Adeleye added, “The state government’s actions aim to protect vulnerable children and maintain the integrity of orphanage services.”
She clarified that while 20 orphanages with provisional licenses were impacted by the revocation, not all were involved in severe violations like illegal adoptions.
However, the government decided to withdraw their licenses temporarily to conduct a thorough review of their operations.
“We have withdrawn the provisional licenses of these 20 orphanages. We want to take our time to dig deeper and ensure that they are all doing the right things,” Adeleye explained.
The affected orphanages have been instructed to reapply after one month, and new guidelines have been issued to those with permanent licenses to ensure that standards are upheld.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Adejumoke Adewole, affirmed that the ministry would continue to conduct unscheduled inspections of all orphanages in the state.
This is to ensure that owners strictly comply with the directives aimed at protecting the children’s welfare.
In response, Adeyemo Anthony, representing the private orphanage owners, commended the government’s efforts to monitor orphanage homes.
He pledged the full support of the orphanage operators to collaborate with the government in ensuring the welfare and safety of the children in their care.
