The Lagos State Government has introduced fostering services as part of efforts to strengthen child protection and provide vulnerable children with safe and supportive family environments.
The initiative is part of broader reforms aimed at improving adoption and guardianship processes, strengthening child welfare services and automating the administration of child care across the state.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting on adoption, guardianship and fostering matters held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alausa, Ikeja.
In a post obtained from the state’s X handle on Thursday, Ogunlende described adoption, guardianship and fostering as important pathways to providing vulnerable children with hope, stability and opportunities to grow in safe and supportive family environments.
He said, “Adoption, guardianship and fostering are important pathways to providing vulnerable children with hope, stability and opportunities to grow in safe, loving and supportive family environments.”
The commissioner explained that the state government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Development Agenda, remained committed to strengthening institutions, improving service delivery and promoting policies that protect vulnerable members of society.
He noted that child care services must evolve in line with emerging realities, technological advancements and internationally accepted child protection standards.
Ogunlende identified the planned automation of child care services as a major reform that would improve efficiency, transparency, accountability and accessibility.
According to him, “Automation would strengthen records management, facilitate monitoring, improve inter-agency coordination and ultimately enhance public confidence in the state’s child care system.”
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On the introduction of fostering services, the commissioner said the initiative would expand alternative family-based care options for vulnerable children.
He explained that fostering provides temporary family care under appropriate safeguards, professional supervision and regular monitoring, thereby creating opportunities to reduce children’s exposure to institutional care where suitable.
Ogunlende called for stronger collaboration among registered orphanages, social workers, judicial officers, development partners and other relevant institutions, stressing that sustainable child protection required collective commitment.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, said the meeting was organised to provide updates on guardianship procedures, introduce fostering services and discuss plans for automating child care administration.
She said, “The meeting is designed to deepen collaboration among institutions involved in child welfare and ensure that our processes remain responsive to the needs of vulnerable children.”
Oke-Osanyintolu added that the ministry’s activities were guided by the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State and the commitment to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, secure, loving and nurturing environment.
She explained that the proposed automation would simplify administrative processes, improve transparency and ensure timely service delivery while maintaining strict standards of child safeguarding, confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening child protection systems and ensuring that vulnerable children have access to safe, supportive and nurturing care.
Source: Punch · Gilbert Ekugbe
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