No fewer than 14 million children are living in orphanages and motherless homes across Nigeria, the National President of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Dr Gabriel Oyediji, has disclosed.

Oyediji spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday, during the inauguration of the state chapter of ASOHON and a two-day training seminar on Children First Software and advocacy for foster care.

The event brought together government officials, child protection advocates, development partners, and operators of orphanages and homes across the state.

According to Oyediji, about 95 per cent of the children are in privately-run homes rather than government-owned facilities.

He said many of the private homes face severe challenges because of poor government support, leaving operators to shoulder the burden of feeding, accommodation, healthcare and education of vulnerable children.

“Governments do not care about us. Let the government realise that where there are efforts, there are bound to be faults. Don’t overwhip our faults,” he said.

Oyediji also revealed that five operators of orphanage homes were currently in police custody in Minna, Niger State, over issues relating to documentation, police relations and approvals.

“Please, let us not go against the government. Some of us run homes without knowing the laws guiding them,” he added.

He noted that philanthropists had gradually lost confidence in orphanage homes because of increasing negative reports about their operations, adding that only passion and commitment had kept many operators in business.

Speaking on the training programme, Oyediji said the Children First Software was introduced to improve documentation and management systems in orphanages and homes.

In her welcome address, the Chairperson of the Kwara State chapter of ASOHON, Christie Omolehin, said the software would address longstanding challenges associated with poor and paper-based record keeping.

She explained that the platform would help operators properly document children’s information, monitor their welfare, and reduce cases of abuse and trafficking.

Omolehin traced the history of ASOHON to 2008, when five orphanage operators in Lagos came together to address challenges affecting their humanitarian activities before the association was formally inaugurated in 2015.

She added that Kwara State reconnected with the national body last year through efforts by the current leadership of the association.

Also speaking, the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Hajiya Mariam Nnafatima Imam, described the gathering as a major step towards strengthening care systems for orphaned and vulnerable children in the state.

She said the training programme, themed “Building Capacity Among Operators for Better Care of Vulnerable Children,” was aimed at improving professional standards among caregivers and operators.

“The welfare of vulnerable children requires more than goodwill; it demands proper training, improved management skills, adherence to child protection standards, and sustainable support systems that can guarantee quality care and development for every child under institutional care,” she said.