A committee to protect the welfare of children on the streets, Committee on Welfare of Street Children (CWSC) has been inaugurated by the Ogun state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Members of the committee are Abiodun Jimoh, Idowu Hassan, Tunde Jimoh, Olaseni Arowora; Moshood Gbadanosi, Jide Dahunsi, Hakeem Ishola and Tawakalitu Soneye.
The Commissioner in the ministry, Mrs Funmi Efuwape, represented by a Director, Mr Toyin Kayode while inaugurating the Committee at a developmental programme, organised by the Global Support for Kids (GSK) Initiatives, in Abeokuta, charged the committe to oversee and protect the welfare of children living on the streets.
The commissioner urged the committee members to see themselves as agents of progress and not agents of destruction.
She advised them to be good ambassadors in ensuring that, the rights and welfare of children on the streets are well protected.
Mrs Efuwape urged the committee not to cover up for the children, whenever they are involved in any wrong inimical to the society, saying, "covering up for them without seeking ways of correcting them, would be endangering the lives of people in their community".
She said the ministry cannot do it alone but needs the support and collaboration of Non governmental organizations, NGOs, CSOs and private organizations, adding that children not attended to would become vulnerable to the society.
The Commissioner assured that the ministry would give adequate support to members of the committee to ensure that little children are taken off the streets.
Earlier in his welcome address, Director of GSK, Mr Opeyemi Olowookere admitted that building a child is building a nation, thus keeping children off the street would definitely lead to community safety, and make everyone to come together as a family.
According to him "Police, trade unions, motor unions, security agencies, community leaders and many others have roles to play. Children seen as problems today can become great persons in the society tomorrow if well taken care of."
"Parental care must be improved upon, as some parents and guardians are fond of training children with cruelty, transfer of aggression, unnecessary beatings, raining curses and unholy abuses, which hitherto leads to children running away from home.
"When the home is not conducive for them, they eventually get acceptability outside their home, they get freedom to do whatever they like. So, I urge total cooperation from all to take these children out of the streets. Let's give them fatherly and motherly love and relate with them well."
Other speakers including the former state Coordinator of Child Protection Network (CPN), Mrs. Peju Osoba ,
National Secretary of CPN, Mr Olakunle Sanni and the Coordinator of CPN in Ogun State, Mr Soleye Akingbade unanimously stressed the need for protecting all children who according to them, are the future of the Nation.
Others present at the ocassion include Officers of the Nigeria Police; Community leaders; Youths Leaders; Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations among others.
