By Our reporter
The Member respresenting Ikwo/Ezza federal constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, has offered scholarships to 17 rescued Ebonyi children who were trafficked to Ogun State for menial jobs and prostitutions
Ogah while handing over the victims to the State Commissioner for women affairs in Abakaliki said his foundations, Chiboy will partner with the Ministry for the management of the scholarship scheme.
He said the victims were lured and trafficked to Agbala in Ogun State where they were used for various hard labour such as hawking, prostitution and peddling of drugs.
The Children, who were mostly teenagers between the ages of 14-19 were rescued by the Rep member's team in collaborations with the Ikwo Town Union Development in Lagos.
"we received news of child trafficking of Ebonyians in Ogun State and alerted the Ikwo Town Union Development in Lagos, and we mobilized them into Ogun State and spent over two weeks until they were able to locate these children."
"Based on the foundation which our Governor has laid, it is our duty to contribute our own quota to ensure the welfare of our people,
“I am here to handover these children to the Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and we are assuring them that we will train any of them that wants to learn skills or go to school from primary to University
level".
"The are 17 in number from the lists including a woman that is harbouring them.We are going to rehabilitate them for brighter future". Ogah explained.
He Commended the efforts of the security agencies in rescuing the children and called for more collaborations of relevant stakeholders towards harnessing thier potentials.
"These children have great potentials, they have talents, what they need is learn how to channel them appropriately." He said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Chinwe Okah appreciated the lawmaker for displaying a high sense of commitment and responsibility to locate the trafficked teenagers and brought them back to the state for rehabilitation and integration with their families.
She gave assurance to partner with Chinedu Ogah foundation to monitor the children and ensure they are being reunited with thier families as well as monitor thier behaviors and harness thier potentials.
She called on the security agencies to ensure the perpetrators are made to face the full wrath of the law for their crimes against humanity.
One of the victims, Nwiboji Friday, 19 years old explained to our Correspondent that the death of his both parents contributed to his predicament, saying he was happy to return to the State to benefit from the Rep member's gesture and start a cosmetics business.
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