Ini Adiakpan: Prioritizing Street Children’s Reformation and Education

By Ubong Creativity

Street children may have no parents or caregivers to look after them, but they deserve to feel safe, valued, and loved. They deserve to have their basic needs met and to have the opportunity to receive an education so they have the hope of a more sustainable future. Some of these children have been abandoned by their family or are orphans with no surviving family members. They are solely responsible for their own survival, have to find shelter and also fend for themselves however they can.

Reforming the lives of street children can involve a number of actions, including: providing services to ensure that they have access to the same services, resources, care, and opportunities as other children; prioritizing child protection services and promote a safe and sustainable urban environment for children; giving street children a voice so they can be heard and make their views known; and putting an end to the discrimination and stigmatization that street children face on daily basis. These and other reformation activities are what Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare has in store for Akwa Ibom children who in one way or another have found themselves in the street and are in dire need of help for survival.

Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare 

Not that her only interest is in the reformation of street children alone, but Dr. Ini Adiakpan, being an educationist, has deep passion for children’s education, especially the girl child. I can vividly recall in September 2023, when she watched a livestream video on the demise of a 13 year old girl, Janet Okon Ekwere, from Mbiekene in Nsit Ubium local government area, who was sexually abused and suffered complicated health challenge which led to her sudden death, Dr. Adiakpan, being a caring mother, quickly put a call across to find out what transpired, and the need to get the culprits and their accomplice arrested to face the full wrath of the law so as to serve as deterrent to others. She did not stop at that, but also directed that a safer abode should be secured for the younger sister of the deceased where she can stay, away from the village so as to continue with her education. She expressed displeasure that Janet has passed on despite effort to revive her, and therefore offered to assist the younger sister’s education directly from her pocket and not from her ministry. That gesture was a true reflection of someone who placed top priority on humanity and education.

Some of the street children at Life Bridge Home, Ekpene Obo in Esit Eket Local Government Area 

Dr Ini Adiakpan is someone that doesn’t joke with children at different orphanages across the state, as she dedicates time to visit them so as to enquire about their welfare and offer assistance when necessary.

Just few days ago, she visited Government Home for Children with Special Needs, where she commended the workers for their sacrifice, expressing her admiration for young people who are dedicated to work in the facility as Street Mentors.

She wrote: “Street children thematic area is a turf for the strong because here you are in for a rough ride. People working here are willing to sacrifice their comfort, indulge in official begging and are often torn between a mixture of emotions: tears, smiles, weeping, laughter, joy and sadness. I have been there and I’m still there oooo! Finding young persons getting involved in this difficult area won my admiration for the STREET MENTORS. Young persons but with a strong passion to recover talents from the street. In three years, they have achieved a lot partnering with Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare. Savour my moments with them and their children.”

In another visit to a shelter run by Street Mentors Network, a private non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the evacuation of street children and their rehabilitation, she said, “I took time off to spend time with my children with special needs. A mother’s touch means a lot to these children. Beautiful and natural souls. I enjoyed every moment with them: hugs, smiles, laughter and complaints. Thank you Kech & Bene for your magic touches .You share my passion.

Moreover, at Life Bridge Home, her NGO for street children, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and the abandoned, where they evacuate, rehabilitate and reintegrate street children when necessary, about 30 kids are all in school and are cared for. She has given street children a place where they’re loved, protected, and given hope for a better future. For 8 years, Life Bridge Home has been a home for these children. There are clusters of 35 other vulnerable children strewn around whose stay in schools is managed by Dr. Adiakpan. As someone working with Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research, CCCRN, it has been possible for her to come up with a strategic plan for vulnerable children in the state. This makes it easier for funders and public spirited persons to pick a thematic area to intervene. It is worthy to note that more than 100 trafficked children have been reintegrated. Also, in her Ekpene Obo village, 20 young persons are trained on fashion designing while 4 on photography.

Dr. Adiakpan’s commitment and dedication to children’s homes further proves her love for the under-privileged and abandoned in our society. Her humane disposition and humanitarian gesture deserves commendation and should be reciprocated.

Ubong Creativity writes from Odio in Eket Local Government Area and can be reach at ibompatriot@yahoo.com or 08037039322