By Lukman Olabiyi
Three-year-old Blessing hugs a faded teddy bear close to her chest, her eyes lighting up as she toddles through a modest playroom in a quiet Lagos neighbourhood. To the world, it might be a simple orphanage. But for Blessing, it’s a second chance, a place where bedtime stories replace sirens and warm meals are never a question.
Across Lagos, hundreds of vulnerable children like Blessing are finding new beginnings in orphanages that are finally being held to higher standards.
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In a sweeping move to ensure that every child in the state receives not just care, but quality care, the Lagos State Government has approved dozens of new orphanages while shutting down four that failed to meet critical safety and operational benchmarks.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, during the ministry’s annual press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja earlier this week.
And while the statistics are compelling, the human stories behind them reveal a deeper truth: that for many children, these homes are not just shelters. They are sanctuaries.
According to the commissioner, the affected facilities include God’s Time Orphanage in Igando, which was closed due to violations of the Child Rights Law, improper registration, and mismanagement.
Lifetime Changer Orphanage in FESTAC was specifically shut down for its alleged involvement in trafficking babies. Other unnamed organisations were also found to be conducting adoption procedures without following legal protocols.
“We have officers who go out regularly and we receive credible information as a government to protect these children. Once we verify these reports, we take swift action. That’s why these facilities were shut down.
“The safety of our children cannot be negotiated. These closures are necessary to prevent harm and send a strong message to operators: we will not tolerate malpractice,” he said firmly.
To avoid such risks, the ministry requires that orphanage operators meet specific criteria. These include registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), a clear focus on orphanage services without interference from other businesses, and adherence to official placement procedures.
He urged orphanage operators to adhere strictly to the guidelines set by the Ministry and encouraged them to approach the Ministry for proper guidance in setting up and managing orphanages.
Ogunlende disclosed that over the past year, 68 orphanages received full registration from the Ministry after passing a thorough screening process. Another 45 were granted provisional approval, a nod to potential and a promise of further oversight.
He held that each facility was evaluated on a range of criteria, from staff qualifications to infrastructure and compliance with child welfare protocols, and added that the goal is not just to create homes that don’t just house children, but protect and uplift them.
“We must jealously guard this space from quackery. The value of life far outweighs the fees paid for registration. We are fully committed to ensuring that children in Lagos grow up in environments where they are safe, nurtured, and given the opportunity to thrive,” Mr. Ogunlende said.
The reforms are part of a broader child protection and social development initiative championed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, now in his sixth year in office. For the administration, child welfare is more than a policy, it’s a moral imperative.
And for the children, like Blessing, it’s a quiet revolution playing out in the most personal ways, a warm hand to hold, a safe place to sleep, and the promise of a better tomorrow.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment, Ogunlende said: “Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government is dedicated to raising children in safe and conducive environments where they can receive proper care and attention.”
The commissioner also highlighted significant support for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) over the past year, noting that 1,000 individuals received empowerment through financial support, skills acquisition, vocational tools, and healthcare access via the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA).
Some key interventions included the disbursement of ₦30 million to 150 senior citizens with disabilities, 100 vulnerable PWDs, and several advocacy groups such as Dyslexia Nigeria, the National Association for the Blind, and the Down Syndrome Association.
In a bid to foster entrepreneurship among PWDs, 100 beneficiaries were trained and supported with business tools such as cookers, fish tanks, sewing machines, and freezers.
Civil servants with disabilities also received assistive equipment, including motorised wheelchairs, laptops with JAWS software, scooters, and prosthetic aids.
Further initiatives involved free oral care for children with disabilities, distribution of manual wheelchairs and assistive devices, renovation of inclusive schools, and provision of learning aids.
LASODA also organised events such as talent shows, quizzes, and an “Ability Expo” to showcase the talents of people with disabilities.
On youth empowerment, Ogunlende announced that over 85,000 young people benefited from various leadership, entrepreneurship, digital, and vocational training programmes in the past year.
He spotlighted the LAG-UP Project, a tech-based empowerment initiative in partnership with GFA Technologies, which has trained 45,806 youths in over 84 digital and creative skills. So far, 23,305 participants have completed the training and earned certifications.
In vocational training, 4,042 youths — 3,200 females and 842 males- were equipped with skills in shoemaking, tailoring, carpentry, tiling, software development, and more, in collaboration with private sector partners.
He also noted the success of the IBILE Youth Academy, which trained 500 young leaders to promote leadership and reorientation across the state.
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