BY RITA OYIBOKA
Chairman of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Delta State Chapter, Ven Emmanuel Amaje, has vowed that the association will clamp down on orphanages involved in illegal adoption practices and operations that violate established standards.
Amaje made this during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Delta State Child Protection Committee held at the Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba.
The session brought together Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs) across Local Government Areas, representatives of NGOs, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), orphanage operators, the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and other frontline partners in the child-protection ecosystem.
Speaking on behalf of orphanages in the state, Amaje, who also oversees St. Barnabas Orphanage Home under the Anglican Diocese of Asaba, said ASOHON has intensified efforts to sanitise the sector and eliminate operators engaging in unauthorised child adoption.
According to him, only orphanages operating legitimately and in line with the association’s constitution will remain recognised. “When you are not operating based on our constitution and the legal frameworks guiding orphanages, we delist you,” he said. “We also alert the Ministry of Women Affairs that we are not confident in the operations of such a home. We do not want people paralysing the orphanage system in Delta State.” He disclosed that 62 orphanages are currently registered with the Ministry of Women Affairs, but expressed concern that some operators still engage in unapproved adoption procedures.
Amaje also accused certain child-related agencies of failing to act decisively against offenders. “Sometimes these agencies are aware of illegal and shabby deals, but they don’t take action. When you do nothing while crimes are being committed, you become complicit,” he said.
He stressed that any home caught giving out children without a legal procedure must be tracked and prosecuted. “If they are not brought to book, it means the system is aiding the wrongdoing,” he added.
On punitive measures for erring operators, he said the association will not only delist such homes but will formally notify the government so that “whatever they are doing will not be traced back to us.”
Amaje further appealed for stronger government backing, noting that many states provide subsidies to orphanages because they help the government house vulnerable children during investigations, custody disputes, or crises.
In his words, “When the government brings children to these homes, they will eat, they will need healthcare, they will need education, yet many homes receive no support. It puts them under pressure to source funds from everywhere just to care for these children.”
He urged the state government to introduce regular subventions, medical support partnerships, and budget allocations that include private orphanages working as government partners.
According to him, government hospitals should be directed to provide subsidised or fully covered medical care for children housed in orphanages. “This will strengthen the partnership and improve the welfare and protection of the children,” he said.
Amaje maintained that proper funding and strict regulation remain essential to safeguarding vulnerable children in the state.
