ASOHON Hosts One-Day Data Review Meeting in Umuahia, Calls for Greater Recognition and Support for Alternative Care Practitioners

ASOHON Hosts One-Day Data Review Meeting in Umuahia, Calls for Greater Recognition and Support for Alternative Care Practitioners

The Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators of Nigeria (ASOHON), Southern Nigeria Chapter, has concluded a one-day data review and debriefing meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, with a renewed appeal for greater recognition, inclusion, and sustained collaboration among practitioners of alternative child care across the South-East and South-South regions.

The meeting served as a platform for key stakeholders to evaluate progress in community-based child care, data management, and partnerships with development organizations, while reaffirming a collective commitment to improving child welfare systems in the region.

Speaking during the event, the Vice President of ASOHON (Southern Nigeria), High Chief Akpulonu Godson, shed light on the persistent challenges faced by care practitioners who have continued to deliver essential services with little recognition or institutional support.

He noted that despite repeated appeals and proposals to relevant authorities, local professionals are often sidelined in favor of external agents, even when qualified practitioners are readily available within the region.

High Chief Akpulonu praised the ongoing partnership with Both Ends Believing (BEB), describing it as a transformative step toward inclusion and capacity strengthening. Through the deployment of BEB’s Children First Software (CFS), he said, orphanages and care homes are now better equipped to collect reliable data, enhance transparency, and produce evidence-based reports on child welfare activities across the South-East and South-South.

According to him, “accurate data will not only correct misconceptions about alternative care practices in our region but also highlight the dedication of local operators to child protection and family reunification.”

He further urged government representatives—particularly from the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Welfare—to commence discussions on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEB to formalize collaboration and strengthen state-level child protection systems.

High Chief Akpulonu also commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for his leadership in child welfare reforms, and appreciated the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa, and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ogechi Oguama, for their sustained efforts toward improving the lives of vulnerable children.

In their goodwill messages, both Mrs. Aghukwa and Mrs. Oguama reaffirmed the Abia State Government’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with BEB and ASOHON. They described BEB’s Children First Software as a revolutionary digital tool enabling governments to identify, protect, and reintegrate vulnerable children into safe, loving family environments.

They pledged continued support for data-driven child protection initiatives, family-based care models, and community-centered approaches that prioritize the best interests of every child.

In his remarks, the Global President of Both Ends Believing (BEB), Mr. Bruce Graham, reiterated the organization’s mission to transform child welfare systems worldwide through the use of innovative technology.

He emphasized that BEB is committed to equipping governments, caregivers, and welfare institutions with digital tools that promote efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Mr. Graham highlighted BEB’s flagship platform, the Children First Software (CFS), which digitizes child care data to ensure secure, accurate, and accessible records. He urged practitioners to embrace technology as a strategic enabler that helps care institutions operate more efficiently while providing government agencies with reliable data for effective planning and intervention.

Also speaking, Mr. Silas Gyang Nyam, BEB’s Country Manager for Nigeria, reviewed the organization’s milestones since partnering with ASOHON in 2022. He revealed that what began as a six-month pilot project has expanded to nearly 90 homes across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria by 2024.

Mr. Nyam emphasized the importance of closing data gaps in the southern region, noting that “data empowers truth, planning, and effective child welfare interventions.” He added that the free deployment of the CFS platform allows homes to digitize records, protect children’s information, and enhance government oversight to prevent child trafficking and improve overall care quality.

He reaffirmed BEB’s continued commitment to supporting state governments in building data-driven, technology-enabled child protection systems nationwide.

The meeting brought together representatives from government ministries, non-governmental organizations, child care institutions, and development partners, all of whom pledged to strengthen cooperation and ensure that no child, home, or region is left behind in the drive to build a safe, inclusive, and family-oriented care ecosystem in Nigeria.

The teams from BEB and ASOHON paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff to the Abia State Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, at the Government House, Umuahia, where discussions centered on reinforcing the state’s child welfare policies and partnerships.