Kogi warns orphanages against under-hand dealings

Kogi State Commissioner for Women and Social Development, Mrs. Bolanle Amupitan has warned orphanages in the state to stop cutting corners by keeping children who have become adults just to attract money from donor agencies.

This is coming against the backdrop that some motherless children grow old and even get married in the homes.

Amupitan in a media chat with newsmen warned that her ministry, which is already in partnership with security agencies, would not hesitate to prosecute illegal operators of orphanage homes that indulge in unlawful children adoption.

While expressing worry over the increase of motherless babies home across the state, the commissioner noted that about 706 children still remained unclaimed in the 18 registered orphanage homes in the state. She warned that children in these orphanages risk being forfeited to the state government for possible legal adoption processes if none of their relations visit them after a period of twelve months.

Speaking, the Speaker of the Children Parliament, Rt Hon. Gbeja Joseph Oluwamayowa disclosed that resolutions have been made for constitution of task force charged with the responsibility of arresting children hawking during school hours.