• Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Blame government for destitute children in society – Elechi

Blame government for destitute children in society – Elechi

As the spate of insecurity continues to heighten in Nigeria, a member of the Civil Society Organisation, Amaechi Elechi has blamed the government at all levels for not taking adequate steps to protect and provide for the population of destitute in society to reduce the risk of insecurity in the country.

Elechi dropped the hint during an interview with journalists at the election of officers of the Association for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, in Port Harcourt.

Elechi, who is the immediate past coordinator of the organisation, explained that the federal, state and local governments are not making enough plans to take care of destitute children, a situation that may lead to the breaking down of law and order as the children may grow up to be monsters and constitute nuisance in society.

He maintained that government needed to budget for these children who have by nature lost their parents, guidance or care giver or due to one disaster or another made them to be in this ugly situation. “It might be due to war, disaster, poverty or calamity,” he said.

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The former AONN boss affirmed that their organisation is taking care of over 35 thousand children by providing care and services to them, noting that there are existing laws that protect the less-privilege children in society but there are poor sensitisation and information by the general public, saying that government is not doing enough in the area of budget provision and the utilisation of such funds to better the lots of the vulnerable children, while calling corporate organisations, well meaning Nigerians and individuals to invest in these children for the safety of mankind.

The former coordinator, however, stressed that all hope is not lost as they are doing their best and called for concerted effort to redirect the social implications of their neglect by society as government is doing less to assist the vulnerable children.

Earlier, the newly elected State Coordinator of the Association for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Bernard Moses expressed joy for the peaceful election devoid of any financial inducement and maintained that team work has the incredible power to increase productivity, job satisfaction and individual performance.

Moses further said that the organisation would collaborate with line Ministries and State agencies to better the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in the state. “We must bond together; we must run together; we must sing one song, and we must tell a good story at the end of this journey,” he said.

Those elected are State Coordinator, Bernard Moses; Deputy State Coordinator, Mina Okoroafor; Secretary, Grace Opara; Treasurer, Chioma Nwanfor; Public Relations Officer, Kelechi Okoroji-Ejemson, and Assistant Secretary, Samuel Vopnu.