By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF in collaboration with the Benue State Government has concluded training of 46 Auxiliary Social Workers in response to lack of official social workers needed by the state government.
The six months training facilitated by the department of social works Akawe Torkula Polytechnic Makurdi,has beneficiaries drawn from IDP camps in Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas,as well as host communities meant to equip the trainees to handle issues of violence against children.
Speaking during the graduation in Makurdi, UNICEF Chief of Field Office Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, described the training of the 60 Auxiliary Social Workers as a giant milestone and a critical step by the Alia administration to ensure the rights of children particularly by protecting them against violence both physical and emotional.
She expressed satisfaction with the commitment shown by the state government begining from the training to its promise to be paying stipends to the Auxiliary Social Workers, describing such efforts as key to ensuring that children in the state are protected against all forms of violence.
Chiluwe, described the graduands as the eyes and ears as well as trusted allies of both UNICEF,Benue Government and the children in their various communities of engagements and urged them to always ensure that the rights of children in both IDP camps and host communities are protected against all forms of violence.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office Enugu, commended the Benue State Government particularly the Ministry of women Affairs and Social Welfare for prioritizing issues affecting children, and thanked the facilitators for accepting to impact knowledge free of charge to the beneficiaries, advising them to use knowledge acquired properly .
She promised that UNICEF would continue to remain committed to children protection, assuring the state government of partnership anytime on issues patterning to welfare of children.
State Deputy governor,Barr. Sam Ode, represented by Commissioner for Health and Human Services,Dr. Paul Ogwuche, expressed appreciation to UNICEF for the partnership with the state government to train the Auxiliary Social Workers, adding that the governor’s acknowledgment of the importance to train ASWs was in line with the administration’s efforts to strengthen child protection in the state.
Ode on behalf of the Benue State Government expressed appreciation to UNICEF, Governor Hyacinth Alia for providing financial support and facilitators,the faculty of social works Akawe Torkula Polytechnic for the excellent job and for contributing to human capital development, urging graduands to stand firm as ambassadors of the state, uphold truth, and justice in the discharge of their duties for the protection of human rights as they go into various communities of primary assignment.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare,Mrs.Theresa Ikwue commended UNICEF for its unwavering partnership and support that has made possible the training and subsequent graduation of 60 Auxiliary Social Workers drawn from Internally Displaced Persons,IDPs camp and host communities in Guma and Makurdi LGAs, expressing the believe that the development would strengthen child protection and social welfare delivery across the state.
She acknowledged that governor Alia ‘s commitment to the development vision and protection of children in communities has reaffirmation the value government has placed on issues of child protection and social welfare, urging the Auxiliary Social Workers to be professional, demonstrate integrity and show deep sense of compassion, bearing in mind that what they would be doing will contribute directly to the governor’s development vision.
Martins Agenda, Rector of Akawe Torkula Polytechnic Makurdi, the facilitating institution said the training was carried out in order to respond quickly to the yearnings and aspirations of the society, emphasizing the urgent need of social workers who will prepare children and guarantee their future, giving the situation where most parents do not even know what to do with their children mostly on the streets giving the drastic changes of society.
Patience Otsekpa who responded on behalf of graduands, expressed appreciation to Governor Hyacinth Alia for considering the less privileged in his programme.
She thanked UNICEF, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Workers, for her commitment to the success of the training, and the training institution, Akawe Torkula Polytechnic Makurdi, promising not to disappoint government and Benue people in the discharge of their duties, assuring,Benue State Government, the people and UNICEF that they would never regret investing in them.
