Nigerian Stakeholders in child welfare and protection have unanimously endorsed the domestication and validation of the Abia State Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children, marking a major step forward in safeguarding the rights and welfare of vulnerable children across the state.
The endorsement took place during a high-level validation meeting held at the Ministry of Women Affairs headquarters in Umuahia. The event was convened by the Abia State Government to review and formally adopt the policy document, which outlines standardized procedures for the care and protection of children without parental care.
Participants at the meeting included representatives from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Children’s Parliament, the traditional institution, and media organizations, among others.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, called for the formal endorsement of the guidelines during the meeting. The motion to validate the document was moved by Comrade Victor Orji, Director of NOA in Abia State, and seconded by CSP Ngozi Kanu, Officer in Charge of Gender at the Nigeria Police Force, Abia State Command.
Delivering her keynote address, Dr. Aghukwa said the guidelines would serve as a legal and policy framework to protect children who are unable to live with their biological families due to abandonment, abuse, or other crises. She emphasized that the document aligns with national legislation and international standards, including the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
“The true measure of these guidelines will be seen in the smiles of children who find love, care, and stability in alternative family settings — and in the reduction of child neglect, abuse, and exploitation,” she stated.
Presenting a summary of the guidelines, Ambassador Onyinyechi Joy Nwosu, Abia State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN), said the document outlines procedures for assessing, placing, and supporting children in alternative care arrangements. These include kinship care, foster care, adoption, residential care, and emergency placements, with a clear preference for family-based and community-driven solutions over institutional care.
She noted that the validation marks the culmination of several years of collaborative work between the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Child Protection Network, and development partners, particularly SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria.
“This process is not just about producing a document; it is about ensuring that every child in Abia State grows up in a safe, caring, and supportive environment,” she said.
Earlier in the program, Mrs. Goddy-Onulaka Josephine, Director of the Child Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs, welcomed stakeholders and commended their dedication to strengthening child protection systems across the state.
The newly validated guidelines are expected to reduce unnecessary institutionalization, reinforce family and community care structures, and establish uniform protocols for child placement and ongoing monitoring.
With this milestone, Abia State joins a growing number of Nigerian states leading the way in child welfare reform — ensuring that no child is left without love, safety, and dignity.
