By Abubakar Ohida
Hon. Oziohu Muhammed, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo on child abuse, is taking a strong stance against child abuse.
She recently visited various institutions in Lokoja, including hospitals, schools, and orphanage homes, to educate and sensitize parents and children on the dangers of child abuse.
Muhammed emphasised that parents and guardians must safeguard and protect their children against all forms of child abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect.
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She noted that child abuse can have severe consequences, including damaging a child’s mental health, causing them to become hostile to society, and even leading to death.
She highlighted different types of child abuse to include: physical child abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
While commending the Governor for prioritising the welfare of children, the SSA assured all the orphanage homes in Kogi State that the government will continue to support them to take good care of the children in their various homes.
The SSA’s efforts are supported by the Kogi State Government, which has committed to supporting orphanage homes in the state.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of Specialist Hospital Lokoja, Professor Isah Adagiri, also commended the SSA’s efforts, noting that lack of knowledge is a contributing factor to the rising menace of child abuse.
Speaking at the event, the proprietor, Rehoboth children home phase one Lokoja, Modupe Awoniyi, appealed to the State Government to assist the children home with vehicle and financial support to enable her run the home effectively.
She noted that Governor Ododo’s reputation for helping those in need is truly inspiring. Saying that, before he became the Governor of Kogi State, he provided the home with a motorized bore-hole and a generator within 24 hours of your request.
She appealed to the Governor to provide the home with a vehicle to convey the children to functions that can improve their knowledge.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of food, consumables, toiletries and cash to children in hospitals and orphanage homes.
