Group advocates reform of orphanages nationwide

By Aderogba George

A group, National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Sahara Deck, Abuja, on Tuesday called for the reformation of orphanages  nationwide.

Mr Udegbunam Morah, the Publicity Secretary of the association, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that total reformation of the centres had become imperative to give the children sense of belonging.

According to Morah, the reformation is also to create an avenue for continuous flow of funds to all these centres and to ensure that proper taxation is input into the system.

He said that the reformation was also to improve the healthcare and educational services being provided at the centres as well as to make the children feel loved and comfortable.

Morah said that the association would approach the FCT Child Welfare Department to enquire on ways and areas it could be of assistance.

He, however, called on government at all levels, prominent stakeholders and existing donors to redouble their efforts at ensuring that these objectives were achieved.

Mr Jude Ogida, a member of the association, called on government to relax the bureaucracy in involved in the adoption of a child from orphanages.

According to Ogida, the process should not be tedious before anyone can adopt a child from an orphanage,’’ saying, “any such adoption relieves the burden of the orphanage.’’

He said that having more than 50 children in an orphanage was on the high side, noting that if the government relaxed the bottleneck procedure, it would quicken the developmental growth process of the children.

“Adopting a child from the orphanage home in Nigeria is stressful because of the bureaucracy bottlenecks.

“The process for adoption should be made easy once the adopter submits a letter from either the church or from a priest,’’ he said.