Bauchi – Stakeholders in the North East region have called for stringent conditions to protect the rights of adopted children in the country.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and neighbouring Dutse.
The stakeholders, including social welfare experts, lawyers, human right activists and parents noted that the adoption process in the affected states is not stringent.
One of the respondents, Mr Rambi Ayala, a Gombe-based legal practitioner, advocated that adopted children be granted the right to inherit assets of those who adopted them.
Ayala told NAN in Gombe that every child; whether adopted or not, had the right to be cared for by his/her parents and should not be denied the right to inherit in an event of death.
He said that adopted children, from a global perspective, had the right to even choose which parents they would want to adopt them.
“Every child, based on the global perspective, has the right to life and right to choice, including choosing his or her foster parents.
“In most civilised societies like America, children have the right to determine who they want to adopt them.
“Parents do not have the right to adopt children, only to use them as slaves, or for trafficking purposes; it is against the Child Rights Act of 2003,” he said.
Mrs Amina Idris, the Information Officer, Bauchi State Agency for Vulnerable Persons and Orphanage, said procedures for adopting or fostering of a child in the state was not cumbersome.
Idris said that the process involved filling a form provided by the agency, as well as submitting a letter of introduction from an employer, traditional rulers, religious leaders or any relevant body.
She explained that officials of the agency would thereafter proceed with the assessment of homes of prospective parents, as well as their means of livelihood.
The spokesperson said that the agency always ensured that the adopted children were not discriminated against in the home, and their rights to education, health and other social amenities, fully guaranteed.
On his part, Alhaji Nasiru Nasoro, the Director Social Welfare, Jigawa Ministry of Women Affairs, said the state government had laid down conditions for the granting of requests of those in need of children to adopt.
“Before we release any child for adoption, certain conditions must be satisfied and rules observed,” Nasoro said.
“We must visit the houses of those who want to adopt the children to find out the history of the family and economic status, among others.
“After granting the request for adoption, we coordinate to ensure the safety of the children, just as government gives stipend to those that are taking care of the children,” he said.
The director stated that the Child Rights Act was before the State House of Assembly for consideration and domestication by the state.
According to the director, there is no baby factory in the state, but added that religious and traditional leaders encouraged fostering and adoption of children.
Mrs Maisaratu Bello, the Permanent Secretary, Adamawa Ministry for Women Affairs ,Youths and Social Development, said the state has only a law on fostering of children and not adoption.
She also said that there was no report of existing ‘baby factory’ in the state.
“We have no child adoption policy in the state, but instead we encourage fostering of children,” Bello said.
The permanent secretary said that the ministry had a Child Rights Protection Department overseeing the implementation of the fostering policy.
She said that any couple that needed a child must apply and also appear physically before the department for interview.
Mr Audu Haruna of Social Welfare Department in the ministry said that couples that needed a child in the state must pass through various government agencies and intensive investigations before approval was granted.
“Even after approval and release of the child to the couple, they must sign agreement letter that the child is not under any adoption.
“Also the child still remain part of government property and from time to time, officials will be visiting to assess his or her living condition,” Haruna said.
On Child Rights Act, Mr Titus Simon of UNWomen in Adamawa, said that the Bill was before the State Assembly for domestication.
Simon said that various organisations were lobbying the state legislature to pass the Bill into the law to ensure that the rights children were protected.
