_By Edebor Esther_
Towards streamlining and enhancing the operations of orphanages in the State, Edo State Government through the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues (MSDGI), has convened a meeting with owners and heads of orphanages in Edo South, held at the Ministry’s premises in Benin City.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner, Hon. Christabel Ekwu, noted that the gathering has been convened to familiarize operators of orphanages with the State’s operational policies and guidelines, reiterating that the essence of running an orphanage is not for profit but a compassionate endeavour, driven by love and genuine concern for the well-being of vulnerable children.
One of the key points addressed by the Commissioner was the evaluation of the Ministry’s support for orphanages, where she announced plans to assess current efforts and increase the number of homes benefiting from the State Government’s support, revealing further that to enhance the children’s development, the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology, will Organise a Science, Technology, English and Mathematics (STEM) programme; an initiative which aims to engage the children during the long vacation, providing them with essential skills and igniting their interest in STEM fields.
Ekwu emphasized the critical importance of reuniting children with stable families; be it their biological relatives or adopted, noting that children should not remain in orphanages indefinitely, as the exit point is crucial. She urged home operators to be open to the reunification process of releasing children in order to make room for others who are in dire need of care.
According to Ekwu, “Families are important; children cannot remain in homes forever. The exit point is very crucial in what we do”. The Commissioner also stressed the importance of maintaining accurate records of all activities within the homes and promptly updating the Ministry on new arrivals and occurrences, while admonishing home operators to be weary of fraudulent individuals posing to have secured the Ministry’s permission for adoption purposes.
She clarified that all adoption processes are strictly managed by the Ministry to ensure proper supervision and monitoring, directing all home operators to refer any individuals expressing interest in adoption to the Ministry, for proper profiling and processing.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Babara Osobajo, highlighted the State Government’s commitment to digital transformation in the State, announcing plans to digitize the Ministry’s processes to align with the State Government’s broader digitalization agenda. According to her, the initiative includes the creation of a portal for registration, maintaining comprehensive records of medicals and educational data, in order to standardize care giving practices.
Mrs. Osobajo explained that the digitalization effort would connect homes with potential partners, government interventions, and support from well-meaning individuals and organizations, while urging operators of orphanages to ensure that they provide the best care possible for the children under their care, emphasizing that homes which fail to meet the established standards would face closure, as demonstrated previously.
“Remember, during our last Audit, homes that were found to fall short of the standards were earmarked for shutdown, and we did just that. We want the best for these vulnerable children and will ensure that they get the best we can offer,” she cautioned.
She further admonished operators of orphanages to imbibe and display the tenacity which Edo people are known for in order to be able to keep up with the profound impact of their work. “The calling is not an easy one, but let’s put that tenacity that we Edo people are known for into this calling, knowing we are impacting lives and futures. Posterity will remember us for good,” she concluded.
