Operators of Orphanage Homes in Imo state have been urged to document any motherless child and social mothers in their custody with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
Commissioner for Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Nkechinyere Ugwu, stated this Thursday when she had a meeting with proprietors of orphanage homes and the police.
Ugwu said, “All matters of documentation involving social girls and children must be reported to the Ministry in 24 hrs of admission and ensure its domiciled with the Gender Unit of State Police Command. Any issues regarding the Homes/Police matters will be handled by the Police Gender Unit of the State Command,” she stated
Ugwu asked the orphanage home operators to report to the Ministry within 24-hours all police matters. She further stressed that any child picked up from Orphanage Home by the police must be returned to the custody of the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
She warned that any Home that goes to court without the Ministry Certificate of Authorisation would be termed to be involved in child trafficking. During police investigations, the home will be temporarily suspended until they are cleared by the police.
She appealed to the operators of Orphanage Homes to ensure proper environmental health, cleanliness and good nutrition for the children while encouraging them to care for the children put in their custody.
Lady Ugwu appreciated the roles played by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Godson Okeoma and the Director of Child Department, Mr. Benjamin Amaefula in ensuring that the Homes are properly documented and working in line with the guidelines.
In his remarks, Officer in Charge (OC) of Gender, CSP Ken Akujinwa who represented the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danguma said the police is ready to work with the Homes to ensure that they follow laid down guidelines in order to curb child trafficking and possible arrests and prosecution of violators. He urged them to form a strong union for smooth operation.
He asked them to make sure they do the right thing by reporting all intake of social mothers at the gender unit
