NAN-H-47
Children
By Egbogota Clara
Lagos, Dec. 22, 2016 (NAN) Some clerics, on Thursday in Lagos, urged the Federal Government to resuscitate government centres for the rehabilitation of delinquent children.
The clerics expressed their views in separate telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Monsignor Gabriel Osu, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, urged all government authorities to resuscitate the centres as they did in the past.
According to him, if all tiers of government go back to the drawing board, concerning the welfare of the delinquent, they know the modalities to put in place.
“In the past, government officials usually went round with their vehicles in search of delinquent children, some of whom were taken to schools while others were engaged in some other ways.
“Then, we had among others, the late Pa Huppers Centre, Yaba Training Centre, Alakoro Centre, Ministry of Youths and Sports Centre, Lagos, as well as interested individuals in charge.
“They engage the delinquent children in different vocations, even as they still encouraged them to go to school.
“Some other ministries too used to engage them in the past but they suddenly stopped such caring venture, so I advise them to go back into the practice.
“In those days, if a child was wayward, the parents or guardians could take him or her to any of those centres for training or guidance,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, urged parents to always be responsible by providing adequate care for their children.
“Government should make it a priority to educate parents in giving birth to the number of children that they are capable of taking care of.
“Government should encourage parents to give education, accommodation to their children and provide food for them as responsible citizens, otherwise they could be sanctioned”. (NAN)
ECO/IKU/YEMI
Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Yemi Idris-Aduloju