The operations of orphanage homes in Delta State came under scrutiny during a public hearing on the Delta State Child Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024, held on October 2nd at the Press Centre of the Delta State Assembly. The session revealed several concerns about the way orphanages are being run in the state, sparking discussions on the need for stricter regulations.
Hon. Bridget Ifechukwukwu Anyafulu, Chairperson of the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Girl-Child Entrepreneurship, and Humanitarian Support Services, stated that the state might consider shutting down orphanages that fail to operate in the best interest of the children.
Anyafulu emphasized that the Child Rights law, domesticated 16 years ago, mandates that children should stay in orphanages for no longer than three months before being adopted or reunited with family. However, she pointed out that many orphanages hold children far beyond this period, sometimes until adulthood, due to illegal practices. Anyafulu stressed that the state would no longer tolerate such violations and proposed fostering as an alternative solution for orphaned children without relatives.
During the hearing, Mrs Oghenekevwe Agas, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Chairperson of the Delta State Child Rights Implementation Committee, discussed the challenges of regulating the state’s 63 registered orphanages. She highlighted that many orphanages engage in questionable practices, complicating the adoption process. Agas suggested that transitioning these orphanages into foster homes could be a solution to ensure children receive proper care without breaching the law.
