Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has warned that his
administration would not fold its hands to watch rules and laws on
child adoption abused in the state.
Governor Ugwuanyi regretted that despite laws and best efforts of
government and other concerned agencies, the incidence of wrong use of
these facilities have continued to be in the increase.
The governor in a speech during the inauguration of the committee on
Child Adoption in the state noted that not only have cases of
abandonment of children and the establishment and the operation of
illegal adoption have continued to rise, it has also become evident
that children are now being sold like commodities.
In his words, “while we acknowledge the right and the necessity for
childless or benevolent couples to adopt motherless children and
orphan, we believe that there is need for strict compliance with due
process and the provisions of relevant laws to guarantee the security
and wellbeing of the affected children.”
According to the governor, it was to ensure that this principle is
entrenched and also ensured that the worrisome anomalies of child
selling and trafficking as well as other forms of child abuse are
curbed in the state that government decided to set up a committee on
Child Adoption
He urged the committee to work towards ensuring that government sets
up the proper structure to facilitate the implementation of the Child
Rights Act in Enugu State and to improve the quality of Child Justice
Administration in the state.
The committee was also given the mandate by the governor to see that
staff of the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development
involved in adoption are given adequate training to track any
incidences of child abuse and neglect as they relate to child
abandonment, selling, trafficking and sexual abuse.
In a speech after the inauguration of the committee, the Chairman,
Bishop Emmanuel Olisah Chukwuma commended Governor Ugwuanyi for taking
a bold step in the right direction to forestall child abuse in the
state.
The chairman who is also the Bishop of Anglican Communion noted that
the work is tough, but added that the committee will not disappoint.
He observed that the state Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social
Development need training, adding that most of them were involved and
connive in committing these crimes.
In his words, “you have really given a very clear cut agenda
particularly staff members of the ministry. They need training; most
of them are involved and committing with these things.”
He assured the commitment of the committee to succeed, adding that the
committee would among others find out who are the mothers of these
children, where they are going after delivery among others.
Bishop Chukwuma thanked the governor for finding them worthy to be
part to fight the illegal means of child adoption and fostering in the
state, adding that the caliber of members selected to work in the
committee would go a long way in achieving a positive result.
