The Kwara State Government has commenced a two-day monitoring and enforcement exercise aimed at ensuring compliance with creche registration regulations across Ilorin metropolis.

The exercise, being carried out by the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), targets schools and childcare centres providing services for children between the ages of zero and six years.

Addressing newsmen, the Commissioner for Social Development, Hajiya Mariam Imam, said the initiative was designed to strengthen standards in childcare services and protect the welfare of young children across the state.

She explained that all creche operators are required by law to register with the Ministry and renew their registration annually, stressing that facilities operating without valid approval are not recognised by the state government.

According to the Commissioner, any creche found operating outside the approved regulatory framework risks sanctions, including fines and possible closure.

Hajiya Imam said a task force has been deployed to inspect facilities, assess compliance levels, and ensure adherence to established operational standards.

Director of Social Welfare, Alhaji Abdulfatai Hamzat, urged proprietors of unregistered childcare centres to regularise their operations without delay.

He maintained that registration and annual renewal remain essential requirements for ensuring quality childcare services and safeguarding the rights and well-being of children across the state.