EKO NEWS
Lagos Joins Hands With SOS Children’s Villages To Reduce Number Of Children On The Streets
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The Lagos government is partnering the SOS Children’s Villages to reduce the number of children on the streets of Lagos.
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The SOS Children’s Villages is a non-governmental organisation focused on supporting children without parental care and families at risk.
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The partnership is expected to provide much needed help to vulnerable children in the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria, has partnered with the Lagos State Government on the provision of Transit Care to vulnerable children in Lagos.
In a statement on Monday, the state government said the partnership was formalised at an agreement signing ceremony held recently at Alausa, Lagos.
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According to the statement, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu, said that the initiative by the organisation will go a long way in reducing the number of children on the streets of Lagos and the cost being borne by the state government.
“As a Ministry, we were conscious of the fact that the initiative by SOS Children’s Villages will complement our implementation of the Child Rights Law. Also, taking into cognisance the track record of SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria in the area of child care, the Ministry wasted no time in agreeing to its proposal on transit care,” he said.
The commissioner, who attributed the success recorded by the present administration in child care to visionary leadership at the helm of affairs in addition to the hard work of the civil servants, stated that the ministry will not rest on its oars.
Lagos Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu
Earlier in his remarks, National Director, SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria, Mr. Eghosa Erhumwunse said: “This collaboration with the Lagos State government was started in 2018 when we began a journey to redefine the practice of Alternative Care in Lagos State in line with UN Guideline.”
He added: “Guided by the desire to prevent unnecessary placement, promote suitability of Care and increase the options of Care for vulnerable children in Lagos State, SOS Children’s Villages has served as a technical partner to the State government to Review Alternative Care practice in Lagos; Facilitate capacity building and stakeholders’ engagement; Support the development of the Lagos State Guideline on Alternative Care and Train homeowners in Lagos State on the guideline.”
Mr. Erhumwunse further disclosed that the organisation decided to partner with all stakeholders in a bid to stop the institutionalisation of care of vulnerable children and provide safe and supportive Alternative Care options for children who cannot live with their families.
According to him, the transit home provided by the organisation is a fully furnished five-bedroom apartment with a capacity for 12 children and two caregivers with one large living room and dining section together with a well-equipped kitchenette to provide children with a short placement of up to six months before they are placed in a permanent family or other options of care as determined by the Family Court.
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The Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu also remarked that the Ministry will go to any length to ensure that the interest of the vulnerable children in the state is given priority.
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