The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all adoption, guardianship, and fostering processes are conducted strictly in accordance with the law as part of efforts to safeguard the rights and welfare of vulnerable children across the state.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakar Ogunlende, gave the assurance while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Stakeholders’ Meeting on Adoption, Guardianship, and Fostering Matters in Lagos State, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

Ogunlende said the state government remains committed to strengthening its child protection system by ensuring that every adoption, guardianship, and fostering process is transparent, accountable, and fully compliant with extant laws. He stressed that the welfare and best interests of every child must remain the overriding consideration in all decisions affecting children.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm. (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, urged participants to contribute actively to the discussions, noting that their views and recommendations would provide valuable input for government policies and programmes aimed at improving child welfare services in the state.

She described the stakeholders’ meeting as an important platform for collaboration among government agencies, child welfare practitioners, orphanage operators, adoption service providers, and other stakeholders, adding that collective efforts are essential to building a more effective and responsive child protection system.

In a presentation at the meeting, the Country Director of Both Ends Believing, Mr. Silas Nyam, said the non-profit organisation is partnering with the Lagos State Government to deploy a technology-driven solution known as the Children First Software to support orphanages and children’s homes through improved digital record-keeping and child welfare management.

Nyam also announced that the organisation, in collaboration with SpaceX and Starlink, has launched an initiative to provide internet connectivity to orphanages across Nigeria. According to him, about 2,500 Starlink internet kits have been donated for the project, with 1,500 allocated to Lagos State.

He explained that all registered orphanages and children’s homes in Lagos would benefit from the initiative, adding that each internet kit comes with 13 months of free internet service. After the complimentary period, beneficiary institutions would only be required to pay half of their data subscription costs, making the service both affordable and sustainable.

The State Director of Adoptions, Dr(Mrs) Modupeola Sahid-Adebambo explained that the current stakeholders meeting is the third edition as it commenced in July 2025.  The objectives of the meetings according to her include the following:
i. To strengthen the child adoption, guardianship and fostering processes in Lagos State.
ii. To close the gaps in investigations conducted by Social Workers.
iii. To increase synergy as well as build and maintain cordial relationships between the Family Court Judges/Magistrates, care care stakeholders and the Ministry.

She said: “These meetings afford all stakeholders the opportunity to review the Lagos State Adoption Processes for better service delivery and international best practices. It also provided an avenue for all stakeholders to discuss ways in which they can work in co-ordination, and share ideas on ways to meet up with the necessary challenges in the process of implementation of the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, in the best interest of children in the State;

Furthermore, the avenue provides a platform for discussions on suitable protocols for Guardianship applications and release of older children who are in government custody, and the resolutions from these meetings have recorded resounding successes since 2025. Over 100 cases of Guardianship have been processed between August and December of 2025 alone, following the resolutions of the third quarter stakeholders’ meeting, and it is projected that this figure will increase exponentially in 2026. It is evident that continued engagement of all parties concerned will foster positive outcomes for children in formal care, while ultimately reducing the malaise of institutionalization of children, through a more structured and coordinated process of Guardianship for children”.

Participants at the meeting commended the Lagos State Government for sustaining engagement with stakeholders and described the introduction of digital technology into child welfare administration as a significant step towards enhancing transparency, accountability, and service delivery. They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting initiatives that promote the safety, welfare, and overall development of every child in Lagos State.

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