Prof. James Ayangunna of the Department of Social Works, University of Ibadan, has called on Oyo State Government to pay more attention to training and retraining of social workers and ensure regular maintenance of rehabilitation centers in the state.
Ayangunna made the call on Thursday at the ongoing three days capacity building and stakeholders engagement on alternative care guidelines in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.
He said that social workers in the state were being faced with challenges of insufficient tools to carry out their duties effectively.
Ayangunna added that social workers in the state needed regular training, especially in modern child protection methods.
According to him, adequate monitoring should be given to orphanages and homes operating in the state, because many of them were operating for their personal economic gains.
“The Orphanages and Homes should have regular sensitization and training programs on the dos and don’t of child protection so as to give children in such homes a chance to become responsible citizens in future,” he said.
Commenting, Mr Lateef Ariori, the Director, Child Welfare, Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, suggested that government, through Child Welfare Unit, should set up a periodic financial support system for any family interested in taking care of vulnerable children in the society.
Ariori said that this would encourage many families to key into quality alternative child care.
