ABSTRACT
The is on “The Plight of Children of Un-identified or Abandoned Children in our Society”. of un-identified parents refer to those human beings who are below the age of eighteen (18) years whose parents cannot be traced.
Moreover, their parents have shelved their parental to unknown people. This act is always deliberate for reasons.
These abandoned children were found in the Old Testament era and are commonly located in many places in our society, with particular reference to South-East Geo-political Zone: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo Sates.
The respondents and scholars are of the opinion that these children face a number of challenges beyond their control.
These challenges deserve the intervention of the church under the auspices of Christian Association of Nigeria (C.A.N), South-East Zone. This is to complement the efforts of the Government and non-Governmental organizations in proffering solutions to these challenges.
Hence, the abandoned children will have new lease of life, always full of hope and prospects for better living.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page —————————— i
Requirement —————————- ii
Approval Page —————————- iii
Declaration ——————————- iv
Certification ——————————- v
Dedication ——————————– vi
Acknowledgements ———————— vii
Preface ———————————— viii
Table of Contents ————————– ix
Abstract ———————————– xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study ————– 1
1.2 Statement of Problem —————– 6
1.3 Purpose of Study ———————– 9
1.4 Significance of the Study ————— 9
1.5 Scope of Study ————————- 12
1.6 Limitation of Study ——————— 12
1.7 Methodology —————————- 13
1.8 Definition of terms ———————– 13
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Abandonment—————————— 21
2.2 Procreation of Children ——————- 22
2.3 Children of Un-identified parents in the Old
Testament ————————————- 28
2.4 Children of un-identified parents in traditional
Igbo society ———————————— 48
2.5 Children of Un-identified parents in the colonial
Igbo society ———————————— 53
2.6 Children of un-identified parents in the
present day Igbo society————————– 57
2.7 The Role of the Church in the Plight of
Children of Un-identified parents—————– 66
2.8 Summary of the Literature Review —————- 69
CHAPTER THREE: THE PLIGHT OF ABANDONED
CHILDREN
3.1 Denial of parental care —————————– 70
3.2 Subjection to Welfare Dependent —————— 76
3.3 Illegal adoption of abandoned children ———— 78
3.4 Trafficking of Abandoned Children —————– 84
3.5 Ritual killings —————————————- 87
CHAPTER FOUR: CHURCH’S RESPONSES TO THE PLIGHT
OF ABANDONED CHILDREN
4.1 Sound teachings on sex education ——————- 95
4.2 Establishment of orphanages and homes ———— 104
4.3 Involvement of the church in the adoption
policy ————————————————- 107
4.4 Creating more awareness on birth control policy — 109
4.5 Fight Against customs and traditions that
support children Abandonment ———————- 113
4.6 Rehabilitation of abandoned children in our society- 115
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1The prospects of ending child abandonment ——— 117
5.2Recommendations ————————————- 121
5.3Conclusion ——————————————– 123
Bibliography——————————————- 126
INTRODUCTION
In recent times, the menace of abandoned children has no doubt posed one of the Nigerian sociological challenges. To this end, there are children in all directions with reports of abandonment, exploitation, misery and oppression by unidentified parents.
Ejeabukwa(2002:24) observed that children often wrapped in bags are abandoned in the dustbins, roadsides, street corners, uncompleted building or thrown into a pit toilet by some wicked people because they are not ready to care for the children,
and because of the fear of shame and stigmatization of having illegitimate children or because the children are malformed.
Kanu (2009:23) also noted, “In the quiet and breezy Palm groove area of Lagos State lies abused children where they come in with their many pathetic stories of pain, rejection, abuse and torture”. These children most probably are abandoned by their parents for varying reasons.
These may include inability to provide enough economically to sustain the family. Some of them are said to be ashamed of having children outside wedlock.
Such parents mostly students feel ashamed of disappointing their parents who are responsible for their training in school. For the above reasons, these children were abandoned.
In some cases, the children were denied of their fundamental human rights. They are also used for ritualistic purposes, which reveal a frightfully widespread disdain.
There are many kn
own instances of abandonment of children in Nigeria, especially in the South- East zone of Nigeria: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
Itauma (2009:24) estimates about 5,000 children being abandoned in South- East zone of Nigeria since 1998, and many bodies have turned up. This estimated number of abandoned children in the present-day society calls for urgent attention.
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StudentsandScholarship Team.
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