Our world interprets an orphan as one deprived of parents. It goes beyond that stereotypical delineation. Someone or something that lacks support, care and supervision is an orphan. Judging from the conventional and real meaning of the word, there are many orphans; and their plight is worrisome. This informed the convergence of critical stakeholders in Lagos penultimate week to deliberate on how to enhance the lives of orphans in the state in commemoration of this year’s World Orphans’ Day celebration. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports
Orphans may curse their fate. Sorrow, like a bough of thorns, pricks their heart. Fate flowers the pain in them. Platitudes cannot heal broken souls like theirs.
But the annual World Orphans’ Day celebration which holds every 2nd Monday of November every year is an avenue for them to gyrate with glee.
Penultimate Monday, the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators (ASOHON), Lagos State chapter, in conjunction with the Lagos State Government, feted orphans in commemoration of this year’s World Orphans’ Day celebration. The theme of this year’s event was “The Place of an Orphan in this Pandemic Era.”
The event which, held at Bimbo Odukoya Foundation Hall, Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju Lagos, attracted the wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu who was represented by Adeolu Folusho, Dr Habeeb Dosunmu of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, homes operators, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), among others.
Pandemic hits hard; more children orphaned
Observers say there are about 17.5 million orphans in Nigeria, while more than 4,000 children in the country joined the orphan status during the current era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dawodu, however, canvassed social and emotional support for orphans. He said unless proper steps are taken to rehabilitate them, society may be walking a tightrope.
His words: “The cost of the COVID-19 pandemic is mostly noted in the people whose lives it has claimed. About 220 were confirmed in Lagos State alone and more than 2,900 in Nigeria. But there are secondary victims, the collateral casualties. These are the spouses left widowed, the family members left bereft and, most touching, the children left orphaned. There are children who have lost a parent and also those who have lost a caregiving grand-parent to the pandemic.”
He also stated that orphans could suffer acute mental disorders and engage in substance abuse because of their situation.
“The emotional and developmental strain that children suffer after losing a parent can be severe. These include lower educational attainment, higher risk of mental health disorders and substance abuse. And none of these touches the serious risk of socio-economic suffering as one or both parents supporting the household financially are lost.
“The peril, again, is especially greater for children who were being raised by a grandparent who have lost a future hope. This may lead to unpleasant experiences such as household emotional, physical, even drug or alcohol abuse.
“There are also longer-term dangers that face orphaned children. Some of these children were born into good homes but they were affected by adverse events due to changes brought about by their new status-being orphans- and that can mean an increased lifetime risk of all sorts.
“Their vulnerability is subject to the imagination. Unless some concrete steps are consciously taken to look out for these children, society may be in great danger. It is, therefore, important that when children are facing this kind of situation, society and the government should rally around to provide social and emotional support for them,” he said.
Wanted: budget for orphans
The Lagos State Coordinator of ASOHON, Alhaji Ganiyu Olayiwola Dosunmu urged the Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to include orphans in the state budget to enhance their welfare.
He also appealed to corporate organisations to support orphanages in the state.
“We appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to include orphans in the state budget. Orphans should not be neglected.
“If you educate a child, you are stopping crime, vice and other unethical practices. You are also building the country. We in ASOHON are dedicated to their welfare in terms of food, health care, and education, among others,” he said.
Olayiwola praised the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Sanwo-Olu for supporting orphanages at the height of the pandemic.
He also praised orphanages and urged them to be relentless in their service to orphans.
Intellectually-challenged orphans need help
Mrs Elsie Akindele, founder of Lady Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial Home called for adequate support for intellectually-challenged orphans. She noted that it is challenging to take care of orphans who have intellectual challenges.
She said: “It is a factor in our lives that anyone in his/her home should remember that there are people who are neglected, who are not privileged to have what they want. Our own special needs children are neglected, isolated and rejected.
“We don’t have enough support from the government. We sponsor the children from our purses. We need the government’s support. Then, parents who have such children should not lock them inside; they should allow them to socialise to enable them to be acknowledged.
“We need the government to know the number of children assigned to every home and make provisions for easy management. We also need capable hands from the government who can take care of the children and provide proper medical attention for them too,” she said.
A glimmer of hope
Mrs Sanwo-Olu’s speech indicates a glimmer of hope
She said the theme for this year’s celebration was apt, stressing that vulnerable children and orphans deserve to be remembered as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the world.
She said Lagos State remains committed to the cause of orphans and the less privileged children, hence the launch of a four-year Operational Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children which is 2021-2024 frameworks to guide the multi-sectorial operation of the THEMES agenda of the state government.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the objective of the plan is to advocate budgetary allocation and implementation of interventions for the management of orphans and vulnerable children.
According to her, it will increase support for the provision of the Child’s Right Law of 2015 (as amended) to ensure survival, protection from harm, exploitation and the promotion of holistic development and well-being of all children in the state.
She said: “In Lagos State, it is a fact that we are passionate about the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children. Just recently, the state government, in partnership with development partners, launched a four-year Operational Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children which is a 2021-2024 frameworks to guide the multi-sectorial operationalisation of the THEMES Agenda of the state government.
“The policy, among other initiatives of the government, clearly demonstrates the commitment of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu-led administration in Lagos State to play up the welfare and well-being of all children, including the orphans and vulnerable in the state.
“Even in these interesting times of the pandemic, all stakeholders must recommit to the welfare of orphans in our midst. Orphans deserve to be supported to live normal lives and aspire to become great in life and fulfil their potential.
“Therefore, the challenge before all of us, including the public sector, private sector, multilateral agencies, various organisations and public-spirited individuals, is to adopt policies and initiatives that will restore hope to the orphans and vulnerable people.”
She praised the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria for its various initiatives in caring for vulnerable children and people in the state. She pledged to continue her support for orphans in the state.
Celebrating orphans crucial
The Executive Director of Bimbo Odukoya Foundation (BOF), Mrs Ronke Oyelakin, who is also the Public Relations Officer of ASOHON, urged people to assist orphans, stressing that they should not be neglected.
“Anything you can do to help could make a world of a difference to an impoverished orphan. So, take some time to figure out what you can do and get to it.
“You could, for example, organise an event to raise money. There is also the possibility to sponsor an individual child in an orphanage of your choice in a particularly poor part of the world or to invest in education programmes that aim at giving orphans a new start in life.
“There are many ways to help orphans and this annual day aims at bringing those ideas to as wide an audience as possible,” she said.
