LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ADOPTION IN NIGERIA: EXAMINATION OF THE CHILD RIGHTS ACT

Abstract

The compelling factors and situations to this article is the fact that there have been series of humanitarian crises in Nigeria even currently as a result of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, unending attacks by the bandits on communities in the North central which has rendered many children orphans and without the warmth of a family and parental care. The United Nations Humanitarian Crises Report (UNHCR)1 reports that the Boko Haram insurgence has rendered children from 5,400 households orphans. For this reason, there is need to integrate these affected children into families to avail them a touch of parental love else, they grow with resentment and hatred for the society due to their condition. However, this will not be a success where there is no legal framework for same. It is on this backdrop that this study became imperative to explore the legal framework for child adoption in Nigeria. The research methodology was doctrinal approach, using analytical and descriptive research approach. The summary of findings and the observations also flowed from the examination of the Child Rights Act, incidences leading to incorporation of child adoption into the Child Rights Act, actors in child adoption under the act, procedural elements involved in child adoption under Child Rights Act, and other legislation about child’s right, and finally made some recommendations which made the study significant to all persons to be rooted in the legal framework child adoption in Nigeria.