Make orphanages part of constituency projects — Coalition tells lawmakers

Sen. Eze Ajoku, President Coalition of Orphanages and Children’s Homes (COCHIN) has called on the National Assembly members to make investing in orphanages part of their constituency projects.

Ajoku made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commemoration of Children’s Day.

“We recommend and propose orphanages constituency projects. We challenge to the National Assembly to invest in Children’s Homes as part of their constituency projects.”

Ajoku also called on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) authorise a change from to `’orphanages to `Children’s Homes`.

Ajoku who told NAN that orphanage is traumatic, humiliating and stigmatising.

“COCHIN, a coalition of Registered Orphanage owners frowns at the use of the name orphanage.

“Today we use orphanage to address and solve or enhance wellbeing of Nigerians homeless children

“COCHIN members believe that as Nigerians, we need to redefine orphanages as children’s homes, the concept of orphanage is humiliating,

“The name creates psychological trauma, torture and stress on children,” he said.

Ajoku called on corporate organisations to also invest in orphanages as part of their corporate responsibilities.

He also called on religious and faith based organisations to promote the concept of `children’s homes’.

Also speaking, Mrs Sarah John, the secretary of the coalition restated the need for inclusion of care homes owners in adoption committees of related Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

John said that they have never recorded any case of child trafficking in their coalition.

The coalition secretary, who appealed for more government support, said that 99 per cent of funding for the homes comes from the private sector.

As part of the activities marking Children’s Day, newsmen had a tour of Darlez Children Homes, Abuja.(NAN)