COCHIN Marks 2025 World Orphans Day, Calls for Stronger Government Support for Orphanages

The Coalition of Orphanages and Children’s Homes in Nigeria (COCHIN) has held a national celebration in the Federal Capital Territory to commemorate the 2025 World Orphans Day.

World Orphans Day is observed every second Monday of November to draw attention to the plight, rights, and welfare of orphaned and vulnerable children.

Although the official date for this year’s celebration was Monday, November 10, 2025, COCHIN chose to hold its national event on November 15, 2025, to avoid disrupting the academic activities of the children participating.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Director of Child Development at the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Idris Yahaya, commended COCHIN for organizing the celebration. He stated that the FCT Administration would ensure regular monitoring and visitation to orphanages within the Territory and affirmed that the government would continue to collaborate with COCHIN to maintain standards in the operations of orphanages in the nation’s capital.

Also addressing participants, the President of COCHIN, Senator Eze Ajoku, OFR, emphasized that the celebration was aimed at highlighting the challenges faced by orphans across the country. He noted that this year’s event focused on strengthening advocacy, collaboration, and community support systems to ensure the holistic well-being of orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria.

Senator Ajoku called on the government, lawmakers, and humanitarian-minded Nigerians to invest in orphanages and in the lives of vulnerable children, many of whom are out of school and roaming the streets as car washers and hawkers. While appealing for government intervention and assistance for orphanages, he assured that COCHIN would continue its efforts toward securing a better future for orphans nationwide.

Some of the children in attendance—Chris Adams, Sherifat Abdullahi, and Bolaji Aderemi—expressed appreciation to COCHIN for organizing the event. They said the celebration made them feel valued, as it provided an opportunity to meet with their peers for games and other fun activities at the Children’s Park where the event was held.

They appealed to government at all levels to prioritize their health and educational development to help them grow into responsible citizens of Nigeria.

Highlights of the event included rides on various entertainment equipment at the park, dancing with mascots, dance presentations by different orphanage homes, and an abundance of food and drinks provided by COCHIN.