Child development specialists have begun sensitizing orphanage operators across Nigeria about forthcoming legislation that will establish a comprehensive foster care system nationwide. This initiative aims to create more stable and nurturing environments for vulnerable children who currently reside in institutional care.
Awka Seminar Highlights Foster Care Transition
The awareness campaign kicked off with a significant seminar held in Awka, Anambra State, on November 20, 2025. The event, themed "From Vulnerability To Stability, Time To Strengthen Foster Care In Nigeria," brought together numerous stakeholders in child welfare and protection.
Organized by the Association of Orphanages And Homes Operators (ASOHON) with support from SOS Children's Villages, the gathering took place at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Women Affairs in Awka. Participants emphasized that when the government signs the proposed legislation, it will establish a robust child protection system guaranteeing inclusion, safety, and proper care for orphaned children in foster homes.
Government Commitment and Operational Challenges
During the event, Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Ify Obinabo, declared the state government's commitment to sustaining child welfare and survival intervention policies. The commissioner affirmed strong support for the foster care system initiative and promised to stop undue harassment of Shelter Homes operators by police personnel.
Obinabo urged orphanage operators to maintain high standards, discharge their duties with commitment and fear of God, avoid negative indulgences, and follow due process in all their engagements. She specifically encouraged them to show compassion toward children and support policies that would upgrade living standards for vulnerable youth.
Practical Framework for Foster Care Implementation
Akpulonu Godson, Vice President of ASOHON Southern Nigeria, addressed participants during the seminar, which gathered orphanage operators from throughout the South-East region. He explained that the program aimed to provide practical insights guiding the foster care system's implementation.
"This programme is aimed at training ourselves to face what must surely become foster care system," Godson stated. "It involves temporary arrangements where children live with trained caregivers who are not their legal parents because their biological parents cannot provide adequate care."
He emphasized that the system's goal is to provide safe, supportive, and stable homes for children while working toward either family reunification or other permanent solutions. The vice president identified several challenges currently affecting orphanages and shelter homes, including:
- Inadequate caregivers
- Lack of government support
- Social stigmatization
- Weak adoption processes
- Various forms of abuse
Establishing New Standards for Child Protection
Dr. Bernard Moses, ASOHON Spokesperson, presented a paper titled "Introduction To Formal And Informal Foster Care System, Understanding Foster Care In Nigeria," where he outlined different types of foster care systems. He acknowledged that Nigeria has one of the largest populations of children in institutional care globally, primarily due to poverty, child abandonment, family breakdowns, and internally displaced children.
Dr. Moses underscored the critical importance of establishing an enabling legal framework and maintaining proper documentation during the transition from institutional care to family-based foster care settings. The gathering established a platform to review current shelter home operations and set new standards aimed at providing specialized care for Nigeria's most vulnerable children.
Experts confirmed that the move toward formal foster care aligns with international best practices in child protection and represents a significant step forward in Nigeria's child welfare landscape.
