This study explores the informal foster care practices of the Igbo ethnic group in South-East Nigeria, revealing both its cultural value in providing family-based care and the challenges it faces. Findings highlight the lack of regulation, data, and support services, underscoring the need for greater involvement of government agencies and social workers to ensure children’s safety and well-being.

In the piece, the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators of Nigeria (ASOHON) Southern Nigeria chapter calls for stronger collaboration between orphanage operators, government agencies and other stakeholders to build a more inclusive, family

This article provides a critical examination of the Child's Rights Act in Nigeria, with a focus on strengthening foster care through the codification of the United Nations (UN) Guidelines on Alternative Care. It analyzes the existing legal framework governing foster care in Nigeria, identifying gaps and limitations that hinder the effective protection and care of children living in foster care arrangements.

This article analyzes how Nigeria’s statutory, customary, and international laws intersect to shape adoption and legitimacy, revealing inconsistencies, cultural resistance, and systemic weaknesses that undermine children’s rights. It calls for legal harmonization and reforms grounded in child-centered and rights-based principles to create a more inclusive and secure framework for recognizing parenthood.

This study examined the impact of orphanage-based interventions on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Benin City, Nigeria, focusing on healthcare, education, and vocational support. Findings revealed significant inadequacies in these services, with participants expressing dissatisfaction, and the study recommends free health insurance enrollment and mandatory school scholarships to improve OVC well-being.

This study assessed the mental health of children in 12 Nigerian residential institutions and found that many had abnormal scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, with risks linked to orphan status, type of institution, and length of stay. The findings highlight the urgent need for routine mental health assessments and better care for children in residential settings.

This article explores how the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON) is urging both federal and state governments to prioritize budgeting for vulnerable children, emphasizing the importance of shifting from institutional care to family-based foster care.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has warned orphanage homes in the state against putting up children for adoption without getting the state government’s approval and clearance.

AVSI has implemented the project “HOME 2 – Ensuring protection to vulnerable children in Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast”, funded by the Italian Commission for International Adoption (CAI).

Street-connected children in Ghana face systemic marginalization, requiring comprehensive interventions at the family, community, and policy levels. Based on insights from 12 social workers, this study highlights micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level strategies to reduce the number of street-connected children and support their reintegration into society.