Ayoola Babalola
The Lagos State Government has directed operators of orphanage homes to comply strictly with regulatory standards governing child care, warning that failure to meet approved operational requirements could undermine efforts to protect vulnerable children across the state.
The warning was issued during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Crèches and Orphanages Unit of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic Conference Hall in Alausa, where government officials, orphanage operators and child welfare experts discussed measures to improve standards in residential child care.
The meeting, themed “Operational Standards and Regulatory Compliance for Orphanage Homes,” focused on strengthening collaboration between government and operators while promoting best practices in child protection.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, described orphanage homes as important partners in the state’s child protection system but stressed that operators must go beyond providing accommodation to ensuring children grow up in safe and supportive environments.
He said orphanages are expected to provide quality education, healthcare, psychosocial support and other services that enable children to develop to their full potential.
“Compassion must always be complemented by professionalism, accountability and strict adherence to established laws and operational standards,” Ogunlende said.
He explained that the state had established operational guidelines to safeguard children from abuse, neglect and exploitation while ensuring proper documentation, effective case management and transparent service delivery.
The commissioner assured operators that the government would continue providing policy guidance, technical support and capacity-building programmes, while strengthening monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance with child welfare laws.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, commended orphanage operators for supporting the government’s child protection efforts but insisted that good intentions alone were insufficient.
She said every orphanage must meet minimum operational requirements, including proper registration and licensing, child-friendly facilities, qualified and screened caregivers, sound financial accountability, comprehensive record keeping and functional child safeguarding policies.
Delivering a presentation on regulatory compliance, the ministry’s Director of Legal Services, Kemi Olugbode, said orphanage operations in Lagos are governed by the Child Rights Law, which places the best interests of every child above all other considerations.
She said all orphanage homes must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and licensed by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development before commencing operations.
Olugbode added that children requiring institutional care must be admitted only through approved legal procedures, including court orders where necessary.
She also highlighted the need for proper record keeping, qualified personnel, child protection policies, adequate nutrition, education, healthcare, counselling and regular inspections.
According to her, mandatory background checks, continuous staff training and clearly defined professional qualifications are essential to improving the quality of care provided in orphanage homes.
Also speaking, an official of the ministry’s Child Protection Unit, Akeushola Olatunji, warned that children in institutional care remain particularly vulnerable to physical, emotional, sexual and verbal abuse, neglect and exploitation if adequate safeguards are not enforced.
He urged operators to recruit qualified personnel, conduct thorough background checks, train staff on child protection, enforce safeguarding policies, supervise staff-child interactions and adopt positive disciplinary measures.
Olatunji also called for improved nutrition, healthcare, education, emotional support, safe living conditions and effective reporting mechanisms, stressing that protecting children requires collective responsibility and constant vigilance.
Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria, Ganiu Olaiwola, praised the ministry for organising the engagement, describing it as an important platform for improving professional standards among operators.
He disclosed that the association had established monitoring task forces across the state’s five IBILE divisions to ensure orphanage homes comply with the Children’s Rights Law and other regulatory requirements.
According to him, any orphanage found violating approved operational guidelines or relevant laws would face appropriate sanctions, including closure where necessary.
The meeting ended with both government officials and orphanage operators reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration, improving standards of residential child care and protecting the rights, safety and dignity of vulnerable children across Lagos State.
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