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Context: Lagos to add fostering to adoption and guardianship
Context, not a SOVCI activity: Lagos State announced fostering services and automated childcare services at a stakeholders’ meeting on adoption, guardianship and fostering.
This is a context story about child welfare in Lagos. It is not about an activity of SOVCI.
On 22 July 2026, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on a stakeholders’ meeting on adoption, guardianship and fostering held in Ikeja by the Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development. The meeting is held every quarter, according to a Peoples Gazette report on the same meeting.
Fostering and automated childcare services
The Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, described adoption, guardianship and fostering as pathways that give vulnerable children hope, stability and a nurturing family environment. He announced that fostering services would begin alongside adoption and guardianship.
“The commencement of fostering services will provide temporary family-based care, reduce unnecessary institutionalisation and expand safe family placement opportunities for vulnerable children,” he said. Peoples Gazette reported that, unlike guardianship, fostering will come with financial support from the government for foster parents.
The ministry also introduced automated childcare services, which the commissioner said would improve efficiency, accountability, record management and coordination in child welfare administration.
Partnerships
The Permanent Secretary, Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, said the ministry remains committed to the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State and to the best interests of every child. She stressed that effective child protection needs partnerships with orphanages, the judiciary, health care providers, law enforcement agencies and development partners.
SOVCI supports orphanage homes in Ojo that care for orphaned and vulnerable children, and invites partners to work with it through its official channels.