Ife Chief Worries Over Increase In Destitute Children

 

By Sola Jacobs

Lowa of Ife, High Chief Adekola Adeyeye has expressed concern over the increase in the rate of destitute children within Ife metropolis.

High chief Adeyeye, said this during an interaction with Osun Defender in Ile-Ife, describing the situation as alien and must be curtailed.

He said the rate of increment of destitute children in Ife metropolis is of great concern to Ooni in council who had taken practical steps to take the affected children off the street but needs the collaboration of all concerned authorities.

According to him, most of these children had converted Afewonro park, opposite Ooni’s palace,Local Authority Primary School in Sabo and Plank markets in Ife to their abode and are not mainly Ife indigenes.

He stated further that majority of them are non-indigenes who found their way to Ife and some of them  are product of inter communal clash as they had lost their  parents but because  of the hospitality nature of the Ife people found respite in the city, hence increase in their numbers on a daily basis.

He said, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has taken practical steps of taking destitute youths out of street by engaging them in skill acquisitions programs, such as tailoring, welding, farming, hairdressing and other profitable ventures, so as to make them responsible citizens.

“As part of the monarch’s efforts in curbing the menace, he has instituted  empowerment  for  widows through engagement of a large number of widows in the state.

“The empowerment programme is not limited to sharing of food items and clothes, but giving of money to start small businesses, help in the repayment of loans, enrolling and financing their children in schools and vocational centres among others.

As panacea to this vice which is alien to Yoruba culture, High Chief Adesola called for the strengthening of marriage and family institution.

He lamented the devaluation of the Yoruba social beliefs coupled with the economic downturn which is responsible for social vices, communal clashes and criminal activities in the communities.