ANAMBRA CIVIL SERVANT RECOGNIZED FOR FIGHT AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING

ANAMBRA CIVIL SERVANT RECOGNIZED FOR FIGHT AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING

By Chigozie Umeh

A civil servant who worked with the ministry of women affair, Chief Emeka Ejide has been honoured by a group of journalists under the auspices of Grassroot Newspapers Publisher Network (GNPN) for his selfless service to humanity.

Presenting the award to Chief Ejide the National President DR Dike Awana of the association who was ably represented by the National PRO Mr Ike Abiagom said when Chief Ejide was recommended by the south east branch of the association they had to conduct a thorough investigation on him and eventually discovered that he had closed down several orphanage homes even those owned by the state government among other achievements.

The National President also noted that among the reasons why the association decided to honour him include his efforts in curbing the incessant sell of children by orphanage homes operators and also enacting policies that will assist in checkmating the activities of illegal homes used for child trafficking purposes.

In his response the award recipient who was the director, Child Care Development in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Anambra state until his retirement, said he rendered his service selflessly without thinking of being honored by anyone or group and was astonished that community news reporters who were mostly against him while in office could find him worthy of honor.

He posited that child trafficking was mostly peculiar to south east but on resuming office he resolved to contribute his little quota in ensuring that child trafficking was nibbed to the bar. 

His words "The issue of trafficking is actually very endemic in south east but I said I was going to contribute my own little quota to make sure that Anambra is off the hook. I started with harmonization of adoption processes in the south east and also stopped some homes that were doing the unethical maybe out of ignorance or intentionally."

He however thanked the group of journalist for the award and assured that as a strong member of the Child Protection Network (CPN) he will continue to work tirelessly to make sure that the right of the Nigerian child will always be protected.