Delta Records 344,432 Orphans, Vulnerable Children

A consultant to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Bisayo Odetoyinbo says Delta State has at least 844,432 Orphans and Vulnerable children (OVC).

Odetoyinbo said this recently in Asaba at a one-day stakeholder’s workshop on education of orphans and vulnerable children.

USAID is funding the Community-based Support (CUBS) project for orphans and vulnerable children the workshop was organised by USAID and the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development.

The USAI consultant said orphans and vulnerable children need at least basic education to enable them read and write.

She added that education was the most potent tool for empowerment and reducing all forms of vulnerability.

Odetoyinbo further said that if such children were empowered through education, it would help to tackle the security challenges in the country.

Also speaking, Mr. Muhammed Liman, CUBS Project’s Chief of Party, said that though education was free in Delta State, there were other basic needs that could be provided for orphans and vulnerable children.

Liman said that such needs included uniforms, shoes, books and food.

He said without adequate food, no learning could take place as one of the reason children stay away from school was hunger.

Liman also said income generating activities to support vulnerable families should be sealed up and expanded in order to reach more families.