Nation
Experts Seek Effective Gatekeeping In Child Care
Some social and child welfare experts have called for an effective and professional gatekeeping mechanism in making decisions regarding placement of any child in any form of residential child care.
They made the call, midweek, at a three-day capacity building and stakeholders engagement on alternative care guidelines in Ijebu-Ode.
Commenting,the Programme Development Advisor, SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria, Mr Oluwole Amosu, said the principle of gatekeeping in alternative child care “plays pivotal roles in preventing children coming into alternative care solely because of poverty and other unnecessary reasons”.
Amosu said that gatekeeping in alternative care would help in developing a system that really match the circumstances, needs of children and families in communities with appropriate services.
“To support family unity and prevent unnecessary entry of a child into the care system, a thorough assessment of child’s individual needs is required to determine the most suitable family support service or alternative community care option.
“This should be combined with a high threshold for admission into care.
“The care plan for a child and the available services require regular reviews, with emphasis on the best interest of the child.
“Children being assigned care provisions, that is not in their best interest, often fall victims of further harms,” he said.
In his remarks, the Director of Rehabilitation, Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mr Muhammed Akande, made a case for children with special needs.
According to Akande, children with special needs should be taken into consideration in the provisions of alternative care system.
He called for Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in the state alternative care system to make rehabilitation centres in the state more habitable.
Also, the National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Mr Eghosa Erhumwunse, said the child care guidelines provide adequate protection of children without parental care.
He said there had been increased reports of cruel, abusive and humiliating conditions in the so-called ‘orphanages’ or institutions and other poor-quality residential facilities, especially for children with disabilities or behavioural difficulties.
Represented by the Regional Programme Manager, South, Mr Ayodeji Adelopo, he noted that institutional care isolates children from the outside world, with rules and systems that infringe on their individuality, rights, psychology and emotional needs.
According to him, United Nations (UN) guidelines on child alternative care promote the principle of necessity that there should be no unnecessary care placement and the principle of suitability.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.
Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.
The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_
The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.
The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.
Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.
Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.
On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.
In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.
Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.
Amadi Akujobi
