Stakeholders and operators of orphanages and child care homes have expressed concern over lack of due process in child adoption in the country. National President, Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Rev. Dr. Gabriel Oyediji, particularly, lamented lack of post-institutional monitoring of adopted children and proper documentation before they are given out.
He made this known in Abuja, yesterday, during a two-day national conference of the association.
“There is no post-institutional monitoring of what happens to children, when they leave care homes for adoption and fostering. We don’t know what happens to these children after they have been adopted, and there is no follow up on their well-being by government agencies responsible for implementing policies, until they turn 18,” Oyediji said.
The president said members were being trained at the event to track children in orphanages and curb abuses and growing rate of illegal orphanages that indulge in child trafficking.
“We are also calling on government to get us involved. We are dealing with these children. Not getting us along in policy and decision making, and putting us aside, amounts to putting the destiny of the Nigerian child aside. It is very unfair,” he said.
“We are asking the new government to make a new trajectory in management and welfare of orphans in the country. We are ready to support the government,” Oyediji added.
