Nahimat Adekoga
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has pledged that the 8th Senate will harmonise all child adoption laws in the country to make it easier for Nigerians wishing to adopt children do so without hindrance.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha spoke when the South East Professional Women Association of Nigeria and the Diaspora (SEPWAND), visited him at the National Assembly in Abuja.
He said objective of harmonization of child adoption laws is to help reduce the rampant cases of girl-child sex slavery in certain parts of the country.
Saraki said, “The harmonisation of these adoption laws will go a long way in curbing increasing and rampant cases of girl-child sex slavery that makes some girls to get pregnant and later sell the children.
“The Senate will debate these laws from the states, harmonise them and make it less stringent as they are and make adoption laws easier for couples that plan to adopt any child instead of patronising illegal child adoption centres,” he stated.
Saraki said the Senate through the amendment of relevant laws create opportunities for young Nigerians.
He said the Senate started this with the buy Made in Nigeria campaigns so as to create opportunities in the country.
The President of the group, Mrs. Nwankanya Ibe said, “the South-East has been ridiculed by illegal Adoption Centres (aka Baby Factory). We, the Professional women from this region have monitored this with keen interest and this formed the basis for forming this organisation”.
She said SEPWAND objectives is to eradicate abuse of girl-child, sex slavery and all forms of violence against women.
The group is also focused on empowering the girl-child and women in agriculture through scholarship awards, livelihood skill developments .
