By Amaka Isikala
The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi, has called for increased support to address critical challenges facing the ministry, particularly the absence of a functional shelter for vulnerable persons, inadequate security and transportation, and the need to strengthen child protection services.
Onyekesi made the appeal on Oct 13, during an engagement with the member representing Orumba North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Paul Obu, where she highlighted the ministry’s operational challenges. She explained that the ministry receives cases involving vulnerable persons from within and outside the state, including Lagos and Bauchi, but lacks suitable accommodation to provide temporary care and protection while appropriate interventions are arranged.
The commissioner also identified inadequate transportation and security as major challenges confronting social welfare officers, who often conduct sensitive field operations to investigate cases and rescue vulnerable persons. She called for a dedicated vehicle and adequate security support to enable the officers to discharge their duties safely and effectively. On education and economic empowerment, Onyekesi expressed concern over school-age children who are out of school and the difficulties involved in locating and reintegrating them into appropriate care and educational systems.
She disclosed that about 100 participants were undergoing skills acquisition training at the Women Development Centre to promote self-reliance, reduce unemployment and address some of the underlying causes of social problems. She added that the ministry continued to organise programmes for women, children and vulnerable persons, including Children’s Day activities, while planning further interventions before the end of the year.
Responding, Obu expressed his readiness to partner with the ministry to mobilise resources for a functional shelter and strengthen social welfare services in the state. He proposed approaching corporate organisations, including MTN, and well-meaning individuals for seed funding to secure and equip a three- or four-bedroom apartment that could serve as temporary accommodation for vulnerable persons and victims of abuse.
The lawmaker advised the ministry to prepare a comprehensive proposal outlining the estimated cost of establishing and equipping the shelter. He expressed optimism that interested individuals and organisations would support the initiative, adding that initial contributions, regardless of their size, could encourage further donations and help establish a sustainable support system for vulnerable persons.
Obu also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the ministry and the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in addressing suspected child exploitation and irregularities in adoption processes. Expressing concern over allegations that some orphanage homes demand exorbitant sums from prospective adoptive parents, he described such practices as unacceptable and pledged to support engagement with the Commissioner of Police to strengthen investigations and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable in accordance with the law.
The lawmaker further commended Onyekesi for the progress recorded at the ministry’s Skills Acquisition Centre. Recalling an earlier visit with the committee chairman, he noted that the facility had appeared largely inactive at the time but observed improvements in its operations during the latest engagement. He encouraged the commissioner to sustain the progress and expand the centre’s impact.
Obu stressed that continued support for the ministry’s initiatives would encourage further improvements and enable more residents to benefit from its empowerment programmes. The proposed collaboration is expected to strengthen efforts to mobilise private-sector support, improve child protection services and expand opportunities for the welfare and economic empowerment of women, children and other vulnerable persons in Anambra State.
Amaka Isikala is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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