By HOSEA NYAMLONG
The Stanel Group and its affiliate, the Stanley Uzochukwu Foundation, have announced the complete withdrawal of all support and affiliation from Joplin Orphanage Home in Rukuba, Jos, following “alarming reports” of child abuse allegedly perpetrated by the institution’s operators.
This decision was conveyed during a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Jos, and signed by the organisations’ legal officer, Barr. Chukwuemeka Okeke.
The statement added that the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, who also served as Patron of the Foundation, emphasised that the group’s involvement with the orphanage had been “purely humanitarian,” including a feeding programme, provision of educational aids and extensive renovations, with state‑of‑the‑art ICT and security installations completed on July 31, 2025.
“The Stanel Group and the Stanley Uzochukwu Foundation cannot, in good conscience, maintain any association with an institution now facing such grave allegations,” Okeke said.
“We have therefore withdrawn all support with immediate effect and call on the relevant authorities to launch a full‑scale investigation.”
The statement further noted that the Foundation had formally notified the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and the Chairperson of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, urging swift action to protect the children’s rights as guaranteed under Nigerian law.
The Stanel Group and the Stanley Uzochukwu Foundation reaffirmed their commitment to the welfare of vulnerable children, stressing that “there is no room for compromise when it comes to safeguarding the innocent from abuse and exploitation.”
Our corrrespondent reports that Stanel Group is a Nigerian conglomerate dedicated to humanitarian outreach, education and community development across the country.
The Stanley Uzochukwu Foundation is its philanthropic arm, focusing on child welfare, health and education initiatives.