Akwa Ibom Stakeholders Address Rising Street Children Issue

Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State expressed significant concern over the rising number of vulnerable children on the streets during a conference held in Uyo, organized by Street Mentors Network in partnership with Theolight Global Foundation. The conference, themed ‘Mobilizing Families for Alternative Care of Vulnerable Children’, featured a keynote address by Justice Theresa Obot, a family court judge at Etinan Division.

She emphasized the necessity for innovative solutions and safe environments for children, linking child abuse to broken homes, poverty, and poor parenting. Justice Obot suggested that alternative homes could sometimes be safer for children than their biological families due to rising abuse cases.

Anita Michael, Executive Director of Street Mentors Network, highlighted the conference's goal to create a collaborative framework for caregivers. Helen Ubit, Executive Director of Theolight Global Foundation, noted the importance of family guidance for youth to prevent poor choices.

The conference aimed to identify barriers to effective care and promote community-driven initiatives for vulnerable children.