Children Aged 2 to 15 Moved to Government-Approved Shelter for Care and Assessment
The Kwara State Government has shut down an unapproved orphanage in Ilorin and rescued 30 children found at the facility.
Officials of the state Ministry of Social Development removed the boys and girls, aged between two and 15, from the Iranlowo Oluwa Orphanage and Children’s Home on Thursday.
The children have been transferred to a government-approved shelter, where they will receive medical screening, nutrition, education and psychosocial support while authorities assess their individual circumstances.
The intervention was disclosed in a statement signed by the ministry’s Press Secretary, Rasheedat Shodunnke.
Commissioner for Social Development, Mariam Nnfatima Imam, said the immediate priority was to determine the needs and backgrounds of the rescued children.
She said the ministry would begin family tracing, with reunification pursued where it is considered safe and appropriate.
“The children are undergoing comprehensive medical screening, nutrition support and psychosocial counselling, while the ministry is also working on family tracing and reunification, where appropriate,” Imam said.
She added that children who could not be safely reunited with their families would be placed in government-approved care facilities after the necessary documentation and assessments.
The commissioner also directed operators of orphanages and children’s homes to obtain government approval, while approved facilities must display “Approved by the Kwara State Government” on their signposts.
She said the measure would help members of the public distinguish authorised facilities from unapproved homes.
The ministry said it had also strengthened monitoring of child-care institutions across the state following the closure of the facility.