Recently, Gov Godswill Akpabio visited the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN), Ikot Afaha, Eket Local Government Area, where some 201 children abandoned by their parents and wards gathered for a surprise package. Guided by their teachers, they rendered improvised songs in expectation and reception of the governor.

Some of the inmates, according to the proprietor of the centre, Samuel Itauma, were street-children. Some were dumped by parents from birth; some sent out of homes by parents/guardians on grounds that they were witches/wizards. But Itauma quickly thanked Akpabio for the free and compulsory education policy, which he confessed, some of the children have also benefitted from. Moreover, he said, some of the children - from age 1 to 5 - have equally enjoyed government's free medical services.

Akpabio drew the admiration of the town folks and even elated the children when he mingled with them; singing "Things are getting better...for the Lord is on the throne..." Then, he engaged them individual questions, one person after another; giving them further hope and motivation.

"Some people say you are witches and wizards; and sometimes, some fake prophets deceive your parents that you are possessed. Then they would tell your parents to bring N400,000. Some of them are standing trial now and if found guilty, must pay for the abuse and injury they inflicted on you. Don't mind them, you are not possessed. You are not into witchcraft; you don't even know what it looks like. You don't fly in the night. And we are determined to ensure that your rights are adequately protected. That is why we made a law recently called the Child Rights Law", Akpabio said.

Itauma, recalled that in June 2003 some adults assaulted some children branded as witches and wizards and he had to take up the challenge of accommodating them to check child abuse announcing that two of the children to be reconciled are to return to their parents

Though the centre has a lot of needs, Itauma was grateful to Akpabio for all the assistance his government and functionaries have given to them in the last one year. He said some commissioners visit them regularly with gifts comprising cash and food stuff. To express their appreciation, the centre gave Governor Akpabio a "Hope for the Less-privileged Award", prepared since May 16, 2009.

"Your Excellency, when you told us last year that you would visit us, many people did not believe you. Today, you have proved that you are indeed a promise keeper. Today, you have shown that you are a caring father; a compassionate leader. Today, you have given these children hope and your presence has assured them that their lives can never be the same again", said Itauma.

The governor described children as precious gift from God and decried the alarming rate of abandonment of children caused by fake pastors who stigmatise them as witches and wizards.

"During my administration, no child will s be stigmatized. Under the Child's Rights Act, any man or woman who stigmatizes a child as a witch or wizard is liable to an imprisonment of 10 years without option of fine." Akpabio stated.

In excitement, the children put up their best display. Little Jeremiah Usuk shocked everyone with an address that drew a prolonged applause. His requests may have been expected, but his impeccable English for an abandoned boy of about 12 years old was another pleasant surprise. Master Usuk had commended the governor for caring for children in the state and stressed the need for government at all levels to initiate progammes aimed at reducing poverty to check child abuse by parents.

To show his renowned attribute of a caring leading, Governor Akpabio assured the children of a brighter future. To start with, he announced the establishment of a revolving scholarship scheme for them - to be managed directly by his office. He said the scheme would afford the children who gain admission into tertiary institutions an opportunity of enjoying government scholarship.

Then, he also announced the setting up of a committee to help reconcile some of the children with their parents and wards. Akpabio, while announcing a donation of N10 million for acquisition of land, expressed happiness that already the inmates of the CRARN were beneficiaries of the free and compulsory education policy of the state government, just like any other Akwa Ibom child.

So far, the governor has done a lot the change the situation of the abandoned children. Beyond putting policies in place, he has also worked on the self esteem of the people; changing their mental orientation. "You would no longer hear children being thrown into the streets any longer. Many parents are learning. I know also that yes, the story was a bit blown out of proportion...the extent of which might not have been as it was but for me what was important was that if it was happening at all, it had to be nipped in the bud to ensure the protection of our children. It is not true that Akwa Ibom State is full of witchcraft people. What is true is that there were few fraudsters, fake pastors and bishops masquerading under the guise of Christianity and making money from gullible and unsuspecting members of the public by terming the children witches", he says.

However, if there are still those left in the stone age when harmful traditional beliefs held the day, Akpabio intends to jolt them out of their illusions with legislations. Now, there's a law in place against stigmatization of children and defaulters risk 10 years in jail.

"If our people are still holding unto such traditional beliefs that happened many years ago in the developed world, it's important that we through the codification of legislation, we should bring such practices and such feelings; or even that kind of thing to an end, immediately. Anybody who calls a child a witch in Akwa Ibom state is termed a criminal and of course the due process of the law would follow for such a person to suffer", the governor says.

Education is the basic tool used to change the people's perception. And so the governor enshrined a provision within the law that makes education free and compulsory for children. Any parent or guardian who does not send his child to school has committed an offence. School heads receive N100 per pupil, per term ( in primary schools); and N300 per student, per term ( in secondary schools) for logistics. This is to ensure that the children are not charged any fee whatsoever. Books are provided free; the governor even recently released N900 for the purchase of textbooks in five science courses.

Today, fake churches (that stigmatised the children) have been pulled down and their pastors prosecuted. Indeed, Akpabio is giving hope to the next generation in Akwa Ibom State and never again shall the future look so bleak!

Ufot Udokang writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.