By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu
And Blessing Austin-Nweke
Anambra state commissioner for women and social welfare, Mrs Ify Obianabo has said that illegal adoption of children will no longer be tolerated in the state.
She said this in Awka, during a one – day meeting with 30 owners and managers of children’s homes in the state, organized by Anambra State Child’s Right Act Committee (ASCRIC).
Mrs Obinabo while speaking noted that the government of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo will not spare any home owner or director caught engaging in practices such as selling of babies, child trafficking, illegal adoption amongst others, warning that those already engaging in such should desist forthwith.
The women and social welfare Commissioner went further to state that the wife of the governor of Anambra state, Mrs Nonye Soludo is passionate towards the welfare of children and the vulnerable and as such has mandated that anyone caught in the act should be prosecuted and the home sealed.
In her remark, the Anambra state European Union Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme Coordinator, Mrs Josephine Onah said the essence of the interface is to harmonize a guiding principle regulating the standard of operations of children’s homes in Anambra state as provided in the Child’s Rights Law.
Also the state coordinator, Violence against Persons, Prohibition Law Committee Mrs Hope Okoye who while giving an overview of home supervision and monitoring carried out by ( Anambra State Child’s Right Act Committee) ASCRIC stated that the interface is paramount as some home directors are no longer adhering to the stipulation of the law while running their different homes.
Recall that RoLAC Assisted Programme with the Women and Social Welfare Ministry started on friday 17th June, 2022 with the team going on monitoring all community children’s home in Anambra state. The aim of the visit is to see their level of compliance with the provisions of the law in running the homes.
Also, during the visit, the team was able to identify some gaps and the need to harmonize these gaps to have a uniform standard of operation in the state. It was the decision of the team to assemble home owners and operators and give appropriate orientation on the right way to run a home while the Hon. Commissioner would sign the new standard mode of operations which would be disseminated to the operators.