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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed that within one year, it has given approval for adoption of 172 rescued babies across the state.
The state government also revealed that within April 2023 to March 2024, it has rehabilitated 753 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons across the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Development, Bolaji Ogunlende made this disclosure at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Wednesday, when he led other top officials of the Ministry to give an account of stewardship in its ministry at a ministerial press briefing.
The commissioner hinted that as part of an effort to make adoption of abandoned babies seamless, the state will soon introduce online applications for that purpose. He also said his ministry, in order to provide robust information on the youth population in the State, is partnering with the Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to get their data with a view to guide the government in policy making, planning and adequate provision for them.
While averring that the menace of begging was assuming a dimension of concern in the state, Ogunlende said the ministry is working closely with the States House of Assembly, through the Committee on Youths, Sports and Social Development, to tighten up laws prohibiting begging so as to ensure that punishments and penalties based on extant laws serve the purpose of deterrent.
He disclosed that a total of 90 men and 35 women involved in drug abuse and addictive substances were admitted into the state’s Rehabilitation and Vocational training centres in Ajah and Isheri. The commissioner further disclosed the ministry empowered 39,564 in basic life skills training, 40, 922 in life planning counselling services, 5, 051 in leadership, advocacy skills while 5, 044 benefitted from livelihood skills.
