A committee to protect the welfare of children on the street
of Lafenwa was inaugurated by the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and
Social Development in which Global Support for kids Initiative came
up with the idea and sponsored it. The
committee was set up on the 10th of December 2020, at Tantalizer
building (cubes international service hall) Lafenwa Ogun state. Thirty three
participants were in attendance which comprises Ministry of Women Affairs Ogun
State, Child Protection Network, Market Leaders at Lafenwa, Police which
included the JWC Lafenwa and Officers from railway station, Community Youth leaders,
Road Transport Association, NSCDC, Tricycle Association, Chief Imam, the media (Penpushing,
Nigeria News Track, The news Ville, News Nigeria and fresh FM radio), eleven
street children were also in attendance.
The main purpose of the committee is to oversee and protect the welfare
of children living on the street of Lafenwa Abeokuta Ogun state. This committee
will be the guardians of the street children, the children will have access to
them, talk to them about any challenges they are
facing on the street. These children are usually accused of unknown crimes because
they are vulnerable; to reduce this, the committee was also set up
to ensure that the children are not being punished unnecessarily.
The Director of
Global Support for kids Initiative Mr. Opeyemi Olajide Olowookere gave the welcome address , he said
that building a child is building a nation, thus keeping children off the
street would ensure that the community is safe and it will also enable everyone
to come together as a family. He said that police, security agencies, trade unions, motor
unions, community leaders, and many others have roles to play in ensuring the
welfare of the children, they are being seen as problems presently but they can
become great persons in the society tomorrow if they are monitored and well
taken care of. He further said that
parental care must be improved upon as some parents and guardians are training
children with cruelty, some parent do transfer aggression on the children and
beat unnecessarily and also use abusive words on the children, all these leads
children to run away from home because they end up feeling that the home is not
conducive for them and a better option for them is to be on the street, when
they are on the street they eventually feel comfortable outside their home,
they now have the freedom to do whatever
they like. The director concluded by urging everyone to give their total
cooperation in ensuring the welfare of the children and also relate
with them in a lovely manner.
Mr. Toyin Kayode the director of child who represented the commissioner in the
ministry Mrs. Funmi Efuwape while inaugurating the committee members urges them
to see themselves as agents of progress and not destruction.The committees were advised to be good ambassadors in
ensuring the rights and welfare of the street children is well protected. They
were also assured that the ministry would give adequate support to members of the committee to ensure that
little children are taken off the streets.
One of the
children who said he has something to say was given the opportunity to talk, he
identified himself as one of the street children, he said he has a school leaving certificate, poor condition of his home lead him to the
street. He explained that most of the atrocity that do take place in Lafenwa
are carried out by older thugs in the environment, but him and his friends are
always been accused for the crime they know nothing about, he also said 80% of
them are being taken to the prison and foster home which made them more
harden. He appealed to the police and
security agencies that they should always do proper investigation so that the
innocent ones among them would no longer be taken for crimes they are not
guilty of.
Mrs. Peju Osoba the director
of child first initiative addressed the
committee; she told them they are to perform their duties efficiently and
effectively towards the welfare of the
street children.Mr. Olakunle Sanni the national secretary of CPN and Mr.
Sholeye Akingbade the coordinator of CPN Ogun state stressed the need for
protecting all children because they are the future of the nation. A representative of Juvenile welfare Centre
(JWC) appreciated Global support for kidsinitiative for inaugurating the
committees as it will also help them in
their work.
At the end of the inauguration, the committee understood the
reason why they should be concerned about the welfare of the street children,
and they pledged to be committed to the task given to them
Follow the programme up on the link below.
https://www.nigeriannewstrack.com.ng/index.php/component/k2/item/7599-ogun-govt-to-protect-welfare-of-children-on-the-street
https://penpushing.com.ng/non-governmental-organisation-inaugurates-committee-for-welfare-of-street-children/
https://thenewsville.com/gsk-inaugurates-committee-for-welfare-of-street-children-in-ogun/
https://newsnigeria.online/dont-be-agent-of-destruction-akinola-charges-street-children-committee/
below are the pictures of the
inaguration.
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https://www.instagram.com/gskinitiative4kids/
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