The Baytur-Rahmah Orphan Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has disbursed a total of three million naira to support the education of 24 orphans as part of its mission to improve access to education for vulnerable children in Nigeria.
The cheque presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at As-Siddiq Schools in Ketu, Lagos.
During the event, donors were encouraged to partner with the Foundation in its efforts to provide care and educational opportunities for orphans.
The funds will cover school fees, textbooks, and other educational expenses for the orphans in the first term of the upcoming 2024/2025 academic session, which begins in Lagos on Monday, September 9, 2024.
At the ceremony, the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Hajia Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, presented a cheque of N1.5 million to the beneficiaries and announced that the remaining N1.5 million would be directly transferred to their respective schools.
She said: “As of today, we support in whole or in part, twenty-four (24) orphans at their various levels of education in different parts of Nigeria.
“A cheque of N1.5M will be handed over to them here. It is meant to cater for their welfare needs in their respective schools, while N1.5M will be paid directly into the accounts of their schools, to sort their bills.”
The CEO of the Foundation announced that one of the orphans, Miskilu Aminat Olaitan, who has been sponsored by the Foundation throughout her education, graduated with first-class honours from the University of Ibadan.
She added that Olaitan is currently seeking scholarships to continue her studies after completing the mandatory one-year NYSC programme.
She also highlighted that three of the orphans are awaiting admission into universities, while others are progressing at various levels in primary and secondary schools.
Hajia Yusuf-Ajibade, who is also a member of the Council of Trustees for the International Muslim Women Union (IMWU), reflected on the Foundation’s efforts, revealing that nearly five million naira (N5M) was spent on the education and welfare of the orphans during the 2023/2024 academic session.
She emphasised that the initiatives were made possible by the generous support of their donors.
She said: “We appreciate all our committed donors most of whom we don’t know in person but certainly, Allah knows you and we seek Him to reward you in abundance. Amin.
“We acknowledge and appreciate donations from organizations such as The Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Bi Jahi Fatiha Foundation and MESH of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs. May Allah ease all your affairs, here and in the hereafter, Amin.
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“We are using this medium to call on public-spirited individuals, who desire to build a better society, who seek to buy into the great rewards of educating orphans and caring for them, to join hands with us on this journey of care and education for orphans, so they will be able to achieve their potentials and contribute positively to the society, and not become outlaws.
“The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals’ central transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to
“Leave No One Behind” (LNOB). A vulnerable group like orphans require all hands on deck to ensure that they get the requisite education to self-actualise, and to reduce inequality and eradicate poverty,” she added.
The keynote speaker at the event, Hajia Monsurat Tijani, Director/Principal of Angus Memorial Senior High School, Somolu, urged the mothers of orphans to prioritize their children’s moral and religious upbringing.
She emphasised that academic excellence without strong moral values is incomplete and raises concerns.
She said: “To mothers, you’ve seen a foundation taking care of your children’s education and paying attention to them. While the foundation is giving them financial support, their morality is your sole responsibility. Pay attention to their knowledge of Islam and compliance with its teaching. Ensure they grow and develop holistically. All hands must be on deck to ensure the efforts do not go to waste”
She also advised the orphans to maximise the opportunity given to them.
“My message to the orphans is to take advantage of this helping hand and make the best out of the education availed them. School is never a scam, and education is never obsolete. See this as a golden opportunity and attain the best possible, leveraging education.
“Aim high, dream, aspire and don’t ever limit yourself,” she said.
Hajia Tijani, a counsellor lauded Baytur-Rahmah Orphan Foundation for the good work which can only be rewarded by Allah.
She said: “I congratulate myself and everyone here for witnessing this event. I also want to urge us all to appreciate the Baytur-Rahmah Orphan Foundation for the responsibility it has taken upon itself which only Allah can reward. It’s rewarding to educate orphans. The organisation is actually filling a vacuum that should never be left undone. It is our responsibility as a people, but we often shy away from it.
“We all know that when a man dies, the wife and children left behind are always at the mercy of whoever cares. Unfortunately, virtually no one cares and that’s why I was delighted when this foundation came up. I was glad because it would give hope to the hopeless. How many times have we seen people rise to address the plight of orphans? Even the families of the deceased feign ignorance of the problems of orphans.
“Interestingly, we have this foundation paying attention to orphans, giving hope and putting smiles on their faces. So, I want to say a very big ‘thank you’ to the CEO and every member of the management team,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the immediate former Amirah of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Hajia Azeezah
Gidigbi charged parents to be more proactive and responsible in the affairs of their children and wards.
She said: “As parents, let’s be responsible. As parents, it is wrong for us to leave our responsibilities to teachers in schools attended by our children. I remembered an incident and my child’s teacher asked if they should help me scold him in school. I made her understand that he’s my child and I know how to deal with him at home.
“That’s one thing most parents don’t do today. They only report children’s misdeeds to teachers and schools. If you’ve been doing that before, please stop it now.”
She warned parents against justifying their atrocities.
“As a counsellor, I’ve experienced a lot and had many encounters with such parents. It’s so disheartening. Public school teachers see and hear a lot daily. Private school parents also do the same. They are not exonerated.”
She urged parents to employ a holistic approach and pay attention to their children’s friends, mentors, and social media accounts.