The Association of Vulnerable Children, Widow and Elderly Home Operators in Africa (AVCWEHOA), an NGO has expressed worry over incessant abuse of children in some orphanages across the country.
Mrs. Chioma Ononiwu, Africa President of the association said this at the inaugural ceremony of the Africa Headquarters of the association in Kurudu, FCT, on Friday.
Ononiwu said that the purpose of setting up the association was to monitor and report to government shady deals in some orphanages.
“A lot of homes are doing what the government says we should not do. We know those who are doing the right things and we know those who have no passion but only make money through baby factories.
“The association is trying to make sure we go into the field and fish out the homes given orphanages a bad name especially whereby a boy will be assigned to impregnate innocent girls so that they will be able to have babies for sale.
“That is not the main practice. The association will make sure such homes do not exist and also sanction any home not registered with the association.”
Ononiwu said the association had been established in 22 African countries among which are in Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Mali, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
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The president noted that the promotion of a sound and legitimate orphanage with good health facilities, schools among others were among the aim of the association.
She, therefore, said that the association which was established in 2017 was focused in ensuring that vulnerable children, widows and elders were being taken care.
Ononiwu also called on the government to replicate what was obtainable in other countries by caring for the need of vulnerable children, elders and widows in the country through support.
Also, Mr. Chris Nwaokoye, National President of Nigeria Chapter of the association said there was need for collaboration with government to penalise those involved in the abuse of children in the homes.
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Nwaokoye noted that through its taskforce with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child development session, they had been able to make some arrests.
“Whenever we find out abuse in some homes, we report to the government and the police will be involved to make arrest and prosecution.
“So far in the last one year, we have two cases in Lagos and Delta facing one form of prosecution or the other.
Meanwhile, the FCT Coordinator of the association, Mrs Chinyere Fubara, said programmes had been put in place to raise awareness on the need to curb criminal activities in homes.
Fubara added that plans were ongoing to sanitise so many homes so that the operators would know what to do in terms of proper care for the children.
On the recent demolition of an orphanage home in Kubwa, FCT, she said the association was planning to make investigations on whether the home was registered or not to further make case for the home. (NAN)
