Child Minding: Kwara Govt Govt makes important Public Notice, vows to deal with perpetrators

The KWARA STATE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT has made a General Notice to the public in regards to child minding activities been carried out in the State illegally.

The press statement signed by Mrs. Adesikeola Babatunde Ajiboye who is said to be the Press Secretary of the ministry reads in part as follows;

Sequel to the reports of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Enforcement (ME&E) Team, the Ministry is seriously displeased with the huge Child Minding activities being operated illegally under the disguise of Crèche, Daycare, Playgroup, Kindergarten, Pre-Nursery, Nursery etc. The report also shows that these unlicensed and illegal operators are carrying out the business in conjunction with uncertified/unprofessional caregivers.

The general public is therefore advised, especially parents whose children are under the age of six (6) and are enrolled with these illegal operators, to be wary of the dangerous consequences inherent in the continued enrollments of their children in the care of these malevolent operators.

The early care and development of children under the age of six (6) is too sensitive and susceptible to vulnerability and cannot be allowed in the hands of illegal operators and their uncertified/unprofessional caregivers.

It is on this background the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development uses this medium to give stern warning to erring operators of Crèche, Daycare, Playgroup, Kindergarten, Pre-Nursery, Nursery and pre-schools etc., to come within two weeks of this notice to register and get their operations assessed and certified. Visit the Child Development Directorate (Room D18) of the Kwara State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Phase 1, State Secretariat Complex, along Offa Road (around State High Court area) GRA, Ilorin or call Mr. Zubair on 09086143720 for further information.

It should however be clearly noted that, Part xiv (Section 163-170) of "Kwara State Child Rights Law 2006" is very clear in this regard and the Ministry will stop at nothing to confront the situation head on within the purview of the law and ensure all the development, safety net and intents of the law on children's rights are safeguarded and protected always. Also, the Ministry would begin serious enforcement, from January 2021 whereby, the children under the age of six (6) would be disallowed entrance into premises considered illegal; such premises would be sealed off, blacklisted in the public domain and prosecution of offenders initiated.