The Ogun State Government has revoked the licences of 20 private orphanages operating due to alleged non-compliance with established regulations and laws, News About Nigeria reports.
This move, announced on Friday, aims to prioritise the safety and well-being of vulnerable children in the state.
Adijat Adeleye, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, disclosed this information during a meeting with private orphanage owners at the ministry’s conference room in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The commissioner expressed strong disapproval of certain practices observed among some orphanage operators, stressing that the state has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal adoption, child trafficking, and mistreatment of children under care.
“The essence of operating an orphanage is to give back to society through humanitarian services,” Adeleye stated, adding that the primary focus should be on empowering and caring for vulnerable children without compromising their safety.
The commissioner revealed that while 20 orphanages with provisional licences were affected, not all were implicated in malpractices.
However, the state government has withdrawn these provisional licences to conduct a more thorough investigation.
Affected orphanages have been instructed to reapply after a month, and additional guidelines have been issued to those with permanent licences to maintain standards.
Adejumoke Adewole, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, announced that unscheduled monitoring of all orphanage homes in the state would continue to ensure compliance with directives.
In response, Adeyemo Anthony, representing the private orphanage owners, commended the state’s monitoring efforts and pledged support for working collaboratively with the government to ensure the welfare of children in their care.
