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Tag: destitute

  • Residents hail arrest of beggars, destitute, others

    aMny residents of Oshodi have praised the Lagos State Government for clearing the area of beggars and destitute.

    Officials of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development swooped on the area and arrested about 43 beggars at different places in Oshodi and  environs.

    A resident of Mafoluku, Sikiru Babatunde said the activities of beggars in Oshodi had become worrisome, adding that some of them were often seen harassing people and insulting those who did not give them  alms.

    Besides, he said the beggars contributed to  abuse of the environment.

    “They litter the environment with all manners of trash and dirt. Apart from these, some of them also defecate and urinate indiscriminately on roads, median and other public places,” he said.

    Another resident  said they were afraid that the destitute’s activities could  pose ‘’great security risk’’ to residents.

    Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Agboola Dabiri said the exercise would continue  until  every part of Lagos was liberated from the menace of beggars, miscreants and destitute.

  • Foundation celebrates destitute children

    Foundation celebrates destitute children

    It was fanfare for destitute children in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital May 27, when a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Nice-Esther For All Foundation (NEFAF), and its sister NGO Nice-Esther Alamieyesiegha Rescue Initiative(NEARI), held a great party to celebrate them on International Children’s Day Celebration.

    The event witnessed the assemblage of children from over seven destitute homes within and outside the city of Port Harcourt, especially children from Cheshire Motherless Babies Home and those from special school, comprising the deaf and dumb, the blind, autistic and Down Syndrome children.

    The kids, who were thrilled with bouncing castle and clowns, were also treated with various fun games, including dancing competition, egg race, among others.  Winners of each of the games received cash rewards for their host family for their bravery.

    Some of the adults in the party though not the focused, stole part of the fun as they feign  kids and staged a dance competition for which were equally rewarded. they also received cash awards.

    The Executive Director of the foundations,  Mrs. Nice Aleruchi Tomboulayefa Alamieyesiegha, a graduate of Computer Science, and her husband, Godknows Alamieyesiegha, said their passion for the less privileged was informed by their understanding of the place they (destitute) hold in the heart of God.

    They believe that children are gifts from God and that anybody who makes sincere contribution to their lives  will be rewarded accordingly.

    Mrs. Alamieyesiegha expressed optimism in the ability of the Nigerian child to become better leaders tomorrow. She urged the children to believe in themselves.

    She said: “We are celebrating our children, today’s child is tomorrow’s leader. Our children are gifts from God, we are remembering every child that lost their life in Agatu and Enugu herdsmen attacks as well as those who were orphaned or even died in all the Boko Haram attacks in the country, and pray the good Lord to grant them eternal rest, and help to the orphaned children all over the country and the world at large, in Jesus name. Amen.

    “Nice-Esther For All Foundation/Nice-Esther Alamieyesiegha Rescue Initiative (NEFAF/NEARI), are two different Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), being run by us to carter for the down trodden, the less privileged ones of the society, the poorest of the poor, in fact the destitute.

    “In this particular program today, (May 27), because it is children’s’ Day celebration we decided to organise this event to give destitute children chance to have a feel of the day, share in the same joy and happiness the children of the rich and wealthy of the society enjoy in a day like this, and this suggests the kind of children invited to this celebration today.

    “No fewer than seven destitute homes and Foundations are in this event and some of which are, children from port Harcourt Cheshire Home, Our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help(motherless babies home), Global foundation,  Perpetual Succour for women and children, The Child’s Special school, David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation and homes and the physically challenged in the Non-Indigene state.

    “Our beneficiaries cut across all age groups as long as you are a destitute, including young girls (girl mothers) who found themselves in the challenge of teenage pregnancy, we encourage and assist them to have and keep their babies instead of engaging in abortion, and their after they can help them to move on with their lives, by helping them learn a trade or go back to school as they raise their babies.

    “These foundations have great passion for widows. We have a lot of them we carter for within and outside the Niger Delta Region. Recently the Foundations under their Free Housing scheme, in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), built houses with modern facilities and bore hole for two widows in Rivers and Abia state. The NGOs have a lot of things in the offering for the down trodden, but we need partners to achieve lots more. She noted.

    Also the husband believes that children being the hope for the future ought to be celebrated and taken care of to avoid bleak tomorrow.

    “Children are future leaders, if they are not taking good care of, then we are playing with our future.”

    He further explained the reason he has always supported the wife in doing expressing her love in doing charity and the family’s love in dinning and winning with the downtrodden instead of people in their class said, “I am from a humble family. My father was a palm wine tapper; my family had nothing to write home about when it comes to wealth, but God’s mercy picked us from the dust to where we are today.

    “Now looking at these children, they may have been written off by some persons but nobody knows what God has in stock for them. God can turn anybody’s life and condition around in split second; it does not matter where the person is today, his/her tomorrow is mysterious and it is only God that has the joker card. It is on the light of this that I support my wife in doing what she has passion doing.

    “Having this understanding that God alone makes and brings down; I price everybody, every child equally. Children from rich homes are not in any way better than these ones here today, it is only time that will tell.” He concluded.

    He pledged continued support for the wife in carrying out this task for God till they depart from earth, stressing that what she is doing is for the good of the society, and therefore should be encouraged.

    Extolling the good virtues of the Alamieyesieghas’ especially as regarding love for the poor, wife of a former council chairman, Dr. Oroma Nmerukini, herself also a lover of destitute said,  “My main reason for honouring the invitation to be at this event is because it has to do with what I am passionate about. And when I got here and saw the huge party this family has thrown for this kids and see the crowd of children in attendance, I was humbled and overwhelmed.

    “Since then, my heart has gone out for the husband and wife and I have been praying that the Almighty God that touched them to remember the forgotten of the society will bless them and enlarge them. This is because it takes the heart of true love to remember this class of persons, the orphans, very poor of the society and the homeless. They are also the kind of people I have passion for, therefore I am fulfilled coming to this party.” She said.

    The coordinator of the children from special school, Bernard Efofiom Edet, hailed the family.

    “Our big mummy has been organising this party for so many years now, to help the less privileged of the society to feel belonging in the society. I have observed that each time this children attend this party and mix up with other children, they are happy and feel belonged and a little more sensible.

    “The children we are handling have special deformity, they have mental disease that affects their sense of understanding and comprehension but when whenever they come to this party you see them behave like somehow normal children.”

  • Destitute home gets food items, cash

    Destitute home gets food items, cash

    Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development yesterday donated some food items to inmates of Oko Baba Resettlement Centre for Destitute in Ebute-Meta.

    Commissioner of Youth and Social Development, Princess Uzamot Akinbile-Yussuf made the donation when she visited the home.

    She said the government would cater for the inmates’ needs, adding: “We are so passionate about your welfare and needs. As a responsive and responsible government, we deemed it fit to visit you and donate some food items and cash to you. We won’t leave you here but from time to time, come to visit you”.

    The commissioner appealed to them to stop begging on the streets, saying: “I appeal to you to stop begging on the roads and streets of Lagos. Let the government be aware of your wants and needs. And definitely we will respond positively. We have equally encouraged non-governmental organisations, corporate organisations and private individuals to always bring their gifts and widows mite here for you. You have no business outside anymore.”

    She urged the destitute and beggars to send their wards and children to school.

    The home’s General Secretary, Muhammadu Baba, thanked the government for the gift items, saying the inmates would cooperate with the ministry on eradicating begging and educating their children.

    Baba said efforts were being made to enrol their children in school, explaining that some of them dropped out of school because of fund.

  • Ex-soccer star turns destitute

    Ex-soccer star turns destitute

    •Imogene pleads for financial assistance

    It the height of his football career, Peter Imogene, an indigene of Abraka, Delta State, was a master of the game.

    An accomplished footballer, with some of Nigeria’s great football clubs of the past, such as Bendel Insurance of Benin, Calabar Rovers of Calabar and Water Corporation of Ibadan. 57-year-old Imogene, built his life around football such that when his playing career was over he took to coaching and was making a success of it. That was until two years ago.

    Today, his world has been reduced to rubble so to speak as a strange ailment that struck him in 2012, while on the way from Bauchi in the northeast where he was employed as a coach to his home town, Abraka, in the southsouth region has left him unable to fully use his legs.

    The ailment later diagnosed to be stroke has left him paralysed and with a swollen leg. He now lives as a destitute on the streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital, where he now begs for alms to keep body and soul together. All his life savings had gone into treating the disease but no improvement to his deteriorating health condition.

    Though married to three wives and has five children, Imogene today is alone with no family member around, as they all abandoned him shortly after his problem started.

    “Oh! I have lost everything”, he usually laments when telling his story to passers-by most of whom have now become his friends. “I was a well known player in 70s, I played for Bendel Insurance, Calabar Rovers, Ibadan Water Corporation and so many other clubs. My wives abandoned me immediately I got this disease and they thought I am probably dead by now because none of them has made any attempt to search for me. I don’t know where my children are, but I think two of them might be in Delta State with their mother.”

    He has become the ‘landlord’ of one of the newly constructed bus stop built by Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration around State Library at Oyemekun road in Akure. This is where he stays during the day and also sleeps at night with neatly arranged empty cartons serving as his bed.

    Come rain come sunshine, Imogene has made the bus stop his abode and always keeps the place clean despite his challenges.

    “In the morning, I normally go to the back of this bus stop to clean myself because this is where I live. This place has been serving as a house for me. And God has been protecting me during the night. Akure people have been caring for me. Some of them will bring food and also give me money. That is why you will always see people around me. Some of them are my friends.

    “I got to Akure six months ago after I have spent about a year in Lagos State. Though, I don’t know how I got to Lagos State. I am just regaining my senses, I lost everything. My family abandoned me, they want me dead, by now they believe I am dead but I will always be grateful to God for saving my life. I am just getting myself back together gradually.”

    When asked how he got to Akure, Imogene told The Nation, “I came to Akure by myself. Nobody brought me from Lagos. When I was in Lagos I was battling with my ailment (stroke) and I started going to a church from where I contacted this swollen leg. When I got this leg pain, I nearly ran mad because I could not recognise myself again.”

    Talking about his past, the ex-footballer said, “I had my first son in 1984, but I don’t know where the boy is now. I think I have five children. I saw my last child four years ago, because we were both staying together at Bauchi. All my life, I was into sports. I think I have three wives. I take life so easy, nobody was after me. I am the only boy of my father who has so many wives. My belief was that I can do whatever I like. Though, I have never being in good terms with the other wives of my father.

    “The problem started when I was returning to my home town from Bauchi where I worked as a football coach with my immediate family when this breeze fell on me and that was how I became paralysed.  I lost everything to this illness and my wives abandoned me. I don’t know how I got to Lagos. I was abandoned, I had nowhere to stay, I was also staying in a public place like this in Lagos. This place is cleaner than where I was staying in Lagos.

    “I will continue to say that I am the luckiest man you can ever think of because I was almost going naked. I think it is a spiritual battle. It is only God who knows. All my family members provoked me including my father. I had little property when I was into football. We don’t save money that time. You know how footballers of those days do live their lives. I became a coach with some football clubs in Bauchi. All I know was that I lived happily.

    “It is now that my eyes are getting opened. I have started feeling where I am staying now. This is where you will see me from morning till night. I am very open to the people. God has always been my protector at night, as no evil person has come to me at night.

    Imogene is pleading with the government or philanthropists to provide him with an accommodation.

    “I am begging the government if they can provide an accommodation for me. I want to recover again, up till now I don’t know what is happening.”

    As for his family, the ex-footballer said, “I don’t want to meet or see my family again, except my children. They thought I am dead. I believe I am facing a spiritual battle and for this reason, I must be far away from them.”

  • For the love of destitute, lepers

    Pravelers along the busy Benin – Lagos Road would usually see tens of lepers near the Edo-Ondo border areas of the road. They throng the road with their children (many whole and good looking) running after motorists and begging for alms.

    But such scenes have reduced significantly in recent times which many have attributed to the improved state of the road. Checks revealed that a Non-Governmental Organisation, Project Charilove organisation founded in 1990 has played a significant role in this development with its soup kitchen which feeds not aboout 300 indigent persons within its secretariat along Sapele Road in Benin City and Osiomo Leprosarium, where the lepers reside.

    The magic of the soup kitchen had taken back children of the lepers and others in the community to school with the help of Reverend Sisters in the community.

    A visit to the community yielded very little result as most of the persons refused to talk to press but they said they are better off as they have less stress since their children were sure of food on school days.

    Speaking to the founder and owner of Charilove, Chris Omusi at his very sparsely furnished office opposite the Central Hospital, he said the soup kitchen was an idea that many thought would not work due to past experiences.

    But he said help came from the former governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion who he said had identified with the home long before he became the governor of the state came. He said Igbinedion was initially sceptical of the project owing to the failure of a similarly project by his by his own father, Chief Gabriel Igbenefion. He said Lucky’s support was key to the success story.

    He said he was first introduced to the place by Samuel Ogbemudia Jr who heard what was happening at the charity home.

    “Financially, a lot came through him and from him. We started our soup kitchen project and he said he was amazed that his own family, the House of Igbinedion had ventured into this soup kitchen thing in the past but it failed because the peoples’ attitude towards it and that he wonders how we are going to manage it and besides, it was cost intensive.

    “He committed the state government to giving N250,000 monthly, as at that time, the soup kitchen was feeding 50 to 60 people on a daily basis except Saturdays. We were encouraged by the government and from the 50 to 60 that we started with, the Charilove soup kitchen is feeding about 300 school children every school day today.

    “We stepped up our services and other people have been donating to the soup kitchen and that is why we have been able to sustain it up till today and thank God successive governments have continued to sustain that N250,000 monthly donation. Even though it has become less inadequate, we thank God for public-spirited people who have been donating money and food stuffs to the project whenever they can.”

    He said “After he (Igbenedion) left government we were surprised that he still remembered Charilove. Something that still amazes me about him is how he was able to identify the genuineness of Charilove and to identify with Charilove.”

    Omusi recalled how he started the project from his personal savings, adding that with the help of the former governor, he is building a 24 capacity dormitory with provision for expansion in the future to cater for its about 96 residents.

    “Charilove is all about service to humanity as a way of glorifying God, as a way of expressing my loyalty to God, the Supreme and that Lucky Igbinedion could come and be so supportive is so splendid. Today we are building a dormitory and it is Chief Lucky Igbinedion that is sponsoring that. He is soft-hearted and generous person. When it is completed, it will take conveniently, 24 children not including the care givers.”

    On challenges, Omusi said apart from funding and the attitude of some person who think he went into the venture for personal gains, the children are not easy to manage. “Some have multiple disabilities, some are orphans and they are all young people so we really need to have enough accommodation for the caregivers.

    “Well at the beginning, it is like starting with my own little savings but before I started the project, I had worked with Shell, and I have worked as a senior civil servant with the federal government and I also had a brief work experience in the United States where I was able to have some little money that I came back to Nigeria with to start the project.

    “We have had so many reasons to feel very frustrated, but we have never really had that urge to quit. I think that is where the special grace of God is at work because if you see some of the people who come here, the way they look down on me.”

  • Osun APC, govt caution Anambra on evacuation of destitute

    The Osun State Government and the state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have cautioned the Anambra State Government not to politicise the Lagos State Government policy on the evacuation of destitute from the state.

    Addressing a joint news conference yesterday in Osogbo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Special Needs, Biyi Odunlade and the APC acting Chairman, Mr. Adebiyi Adelowo, said Osun was among the states affected by the Lagos State evacuation order.

    They said Anambra State Government should not turn an issue meant to protect the indigenes of Lagos State and make governments of states to be alive to their responsibilities, to a political matter because of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    According to Odunlade, about 135 indigenes of the state, who are destitute, have been moved from Lagos to the state between April 27, 2010 and now.

    He said: “Similarly, government received two persons each, who are indigenes of the state, from Ogun and Ondo states on April 16, last year. Four persons were also sent from Oyo State to the state in June.”

    Mr. Adelowo said: “There is no bitterness or any sensation about this. It is routine administrative process that when you have a destitute on your hand, without home or family, and after doing your best for them, you send them to their people.

    “In Osun, we have a similar programme of clearing the streets of beggars and the destitute. Those that can be empowered are assisted to be on their own. We are also going to resettle them one way or the other.”

    He described the condemnation of the Lagos State Government policy on the relocation of the destitute by the Anambra State Government as unfortunate, saying a simple administrative process was being subjected to undue politicisation in a way that was capable of putting the Igbo against Lagos State and their Yoruba hosts.

     

  • Kano to empower beggars, destitute

    Kano State Government has mapped out skill acquisition programmes for beggars and the destitute to evacuate them from the streets.

    “Over 500 beggars have been evacuated from the streets in Kano and they have been registered and accredited as part of the new empowerment scheme designed to give hope to the hopeless,” said Alhaji Yusuf Usman, the Special Adviser (SA) to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso on Disabled Persons.

    The SA, who spoke to reporters yesterday in Kano, said the registration exercise is ongoing at road junctions, roundabouts and other spots where physically-challenged persons and the destitute stay.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Court jails destitute for stealing lab coat, phone

    Twenty-four-year-old Inni Udesi, a self acclaimed destitute, is to spend the next three months as an inmate at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos.

    He was jailed after pleading guilty to charges of stealing and impersonation brought against him by police prosecutor, Inspector Ezekiel Ayorinde, before an Itire Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

    Presiding Magistrate D.T. Olatokun sentenced him to three-month imprisonment with hard labour for each count. The sentences are to run concurrently.

    Udessi admitted he stole a laboratory coat and stethoscope forgotten by a female student, who hurriedly left a restaurant on September 7 within the premises of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Three days after he stole the coat, Udessi, at about 7:50am, resurfaced in Ward E1 of the hospital in the stolen lab coat and was conducting ward rounds on patients.

    Ayorinde told the court that the accused collected the phone of a patient, Peter Oshingbogun, who complained about the treatment he was getting. He left the ward under the guise of calling the relevant doctor.

    Ayorinde said: ‘‘He pretended to be calling the doctor and walked towards the door and escaped before the patient raised an alarm, Udesis was apprehended and taken to the hospital’s security post.

    ‘‘In the course of interrogation, he initially claimed he was a doctor at the hospital and when he was asked to provide his identity card, he could not.

    ‘‘The police was invited to arrest him and at the station, he confessed to stealing the laboratory coat from a female student.”

    Udessi, who was charged under Sections 285(a)(b) and 78(b), told the court he stole the coat and stethoscope because he wanted to feel like a doctor and the phone to survive.

    He said: “There is nothing I have not tried to do but none worked out. I have worked as a bus conductor for two months, I could not continue because the drivers always said I do not know how to do the job.

    ‘‘I usually sleep at the UNILAG recreation centre and in the morning, I go about looking for what to eat.’’

    Olatokun said: ‘‘Having pleaded guilty to the three counts, the accused is hereby convicted as charged and sentenced to three months in prison for each of the three counts.

    ‘‘The sentence is to run concurrently and should start counting from the date of arraignment,’’ she said.