Abia Govt. Commends BEB for Supporting Child Welfare with Innovative Software

Abia Govt. Commends BEB for Supporting Child Welfare with Innovative Software

The Abia State  Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Mrs Maureen Aghukwa and the Global President of Both Ends Believing (BEB), Bruce Graham, for their collaborative effort in supporting the State’s child welfare initiatives.

Governor Otti gave the commendation when he received the global president of Both Ends Believing, Bruce Graham and his team in company of the Vice President, Southern Region of the Association of Orphanages Home Operators in Nigeria, High Chief Godson Akpulonu, where the BEB team presented a software solution developed to enhance data management and overall efficiency in the administration of orphanage homes across the state.

The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Ajagba, while describing the initiative as one that aligns with divine principles, emphasized that children are a heritage from God and deserve to be nurtured and protected.

The State Chief Executive lauded the organization for its selfless commitment to preserving young lives, noting that their efforts would be remembered by posterity.

“Most times, people invest in what brings immediate personal gain, but what you are doing is beyond that. The children you are helping may never know you, yet your work is a seed of love and service that heaven will reward,” he said.

He disclosed that his passion for service has continued to attract global partnerships, including from the United States, Israel and the European Union, all of whom have commended his administration’s reforms in health, social welfare and governance.

The Governor further assured the BEB delegation of his administration’s support in sustaining the collaboration and effectively utilizing the software to improve child welfare management. He thanked the team for their noble contribution and reaffirmed that their innovation would play a vital role in strengthening his administration’s ongoing efforts to secure the future of Abia’s children.

In her speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs Maureen Aghukwa, expressed delight over the partnership between the Abia State Government and Both Ends Believing (BEB), a global organization that has developed an innovative software designed to improve data management and monitoring in orphanage homes across the state.

Mrs Aghukwa while pointing out that Abia is privileged to be the first to benefit from the initiative, noted that the software will greatly enhance transparency, accountability and effective care for children under institutional protection.

She thanked Governor Otti for his support and commitment to child welfare, adding that the collaboration reflects his administration’s focus on inclusive social development. The Commissioner also appreciated the BEB team, led by its global president, Bruce Graham, for choosing Abia as the launch state and for their dedication to humanitarian service. She expressed optimism that the partnership will yield lasting positive impact in improving the lives and future of children in orphanage homes across the state.

In his address, global president of Both Ends Believing BEB, Bruce Graham, explained that the organization has been working in Nigeria for some time but was meeting for the first time with all partner states in the Southeast region to review data and promote the use of the Children First Software.

He explained that the software is designed to digitize information about children in orphanage homes, making it easier to manage their welfare and connect them to families. Developed through his background in software for courts in the U.S, the tool is offered free of charge, with funding raised by BEB to support improved child management systems.

Mr Graham noted that BEB has been partnering with ASOHAN since 2023 and is seeking the state government’s approval of a light Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their collaboration. He explained that the agreement would strengthen cooperation with the Ministry, provide credibility when engaging with orphanage homes, and support effective software rollout.

Bruce Graham emphasized that BEB’s sole mission is to help authorities identify, support, and regulate homes, closing down substandard ones while enhancing those that provide quality care.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Barr. Chijioke Nwankwo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Oguama Ogechi Becky, her Anambra State counterpart, Mrs Chinenye Ikegbo, Country Manager of BEB, Silas Gyang, the country representative, Yonpan Dariem among other top government officials were present during the visit.