The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Foundation

  • Foundation donates to Abia Poly

    Foundation donates to Abia Poly

    Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Abia State has received about 843 books and two laptops worth several thousands of naira from a non-governmental organisation, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation.

    The Nation gathered that this was the second time that the donor would be donating books to the polytechnic after it donated about 901 volumes and a laptop to the polytechnic’s library in 2012.

    Professor Martin Ikechukwu Ifeanacho, the Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, speaking after receiving the items, described the donation as one that will promote teaching and learning and allow the students of the institution to have access to wide range of books for research and amongst others.

    The elated rector thanked the donor and his foundation for their magnanimity and their keen interest in the development of youths in the country and the polytechnic in particular.

    He appealed to private and corporate bodies, including individuals and philanthropists in Aba, the state and the southeast to emulate the gestures of the book donor by coming to the aid of the institution, stressing that with the lean resources made available to the institution by the government the assistance of these bodies would be highly appreciated.

    He used the opportunity to reiterate the desire of the school to produce graduates that would not only be employable but can compete favourably in the global market.

    “Building human capacity is the greatest gift a country will have and that is what Sir Emeka Offor foundation is doing. The laptops will me more useful especially at this time that e-library is the order of the day. The books will help the students in their research. The donations are very vital considering that many institutions in the country today are finding it very difficult to have reading materials because of paucity of funds. Emeka Offor foundation has shown big example and that the books and laptops will help to facilitate teaching and learning in the institution. It is a great step that should be emulated by other people.

    “There has never been a case of students rioting and destroying things in the institution. The fear of misusing or lifting the books from the library is out it. The students are going to make judicious use of the materials and efforts were already in place to digitize the books to enable them have the materials in soft and hard copies.

    Deaconess Glory Onuoha, the school Librarian, Dr. Chizaram Ogbuji, Dean Student Affairs and comrade Chigbu Godswill Uchechukwu, the SUG President of the polytechnics thanked Sir Emeka Offor for his concern in shaping the future of Nigerian youths through his investment in education and promised that they were going to make judicious use of the books and other educational materials at their disposal.

  • Foundation lifts 220 pupils

    Foundation lifts 220 pupils

    Hundreds of indigent primary school pupils have been saved from dropping out of school by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Ojo Ibukun Foundation.

    The public service organisation has adopted 220 pupils in primary schools in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

    Under an event tagged Indigent Pupils’ Adoption Programme (IPAP), the foundation said it is out to help the less privileged and eradicate poverty in the rural communities.

    The foundation donated kits to the pupils.

    Each pupil got a school bag, two pairs of uniform, a pair of sandals, two pairs of socks, exercise books, biro and pencils.

    Unveiling its objectives at Paym Events Centre in Okegbowo, Eredo, foundation’s convener, Shamsideen Adeniyi, told The Nation that his childhood experience led to IPAP’s establishment.

    Adeniyi said: ‘’I was brought up in Eredo community. I know what poverty is all about and I believe one can be his brother’s keeper by giving out to the less privileged ones. Like I always say, once you can afford three square meals, you can afford to feed another man. I looked around and realised that a lot of people need help. So, I was inspired to assist the indigents.

    “In Ojo Ibukun, we believe public service is not and should not be limited to political office holders. We believe we should always find a way to serve humanity of which we are integral part of. We strongly believe that giving is not of abundance but out of love. Therefore, the IPAP is designed to symbolically adopt an indigent child and provide him with the basic necessity of education which might have not been covered by the Lagos State Free Primary Education Policy’’.

    Adeniyi, the former Secretary to Eredo LCDA lamented the rate of children deprived of education because of poverty, saying “It is disheartening in this modern age to see little kids through no fault of theirs but accident of birth going to school with torn uniforms and some even without shoes or writing materials while their classmates are properly kitted.

    “Ojo Ibukun Foundation is a platform for joint effort in philanthropy. We want to proof that we can achieve great things in small measure collectively. We can all put together our widows’ mite and achieve success in a task that ordinarily insurmountable for individual.

    ‘’To adopt a child under this programme, all an individual needs to do is to pay the sum of N5,000 (the cost of two pairs of uniform, school bag, a pair of sandal, two pairs of socks, exercise books and writing materials) to a dedicated account which is to be managed by highly reputable individuals.”

    Adeniyi urged the beneficiaries to focus on their education in order to be successful in life.

    Many dignitaries at the event including Hon Segun Olulade, Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, recollected how lack of school sandals and uniforms almost stalled their educational careers.

    They said they were at one point or another rescued by family members, friends and well-meaning individuals to procure school materials for them to continue their education.

    They all hailed Adeniyi for the initiative and donated towards the continuation of the project.

    One of the principal guests, Hon Wasiu Odeyemi, Commissioner 111 in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, adopted 120 pupils on behalf of his late parent’s foundation, Hassmowum.

    Odeyemi, who also recounted his struggling days in meeting up with school’s demand, donated N600,000 naira to the foundation.

  • Foundation fetes the needy at Sallah

    Foundation fetes the needy at Sallah

    The yearly Ramadan Outreach of the Bola Tinubu Foundation (BTF) was held at Onikan Stasium on Lagos Island last Saturday. The needy went home with gifts and cash, MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports

    The Onikan Stadium on Lagos Island was a beehive of activities on Saturday. It was a day the disabled, the aged and other less privileged persons gathered to benefit from the Ramadan Outreach organised by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Foundation (BTF).

    The foundation has been reaching out to the needy through provision of food items, cash, clothes, cooking items and toiletries to enable them to participate in any Muslim festivities. The event used to be held at Idowu Tailor Street, Victoria Island where the foundation’s office is located.

    This time around, it was shifted to Onikan Stadium in order to accommodate large recipients expected at the event.

    Prior to the day, information had reached the people that the foundation would provide Sallah items for the poor to enable them to celebrate.

    To prevent the event from being hijacked by hoodlums, policemen and other para-military personnel were drawn from the civil defence and others. Sniffer dogs were also controlled by plain-clothed security personnel that patrolled the venue.

    Despite the presence of policemen and other security personnel, it took beneficiaries hectic time to receive their gifts.

    To avoid unforeseen challenges that might likely to be encountered at the gate, people started trooping to the venue in the wee hours of the day. So, by 9:00 a.m. when the event commenced, the mammoth crowd at the venue became almost uncontrollable.

    To maintain decorum at the venue, special gates were allocated to women, men while the disabled assembled in certain area to be taken in by the officials of the foundation.

    The situation almost turned out nasty when street urchins popularly known as Area Boys became lords of the day as they flex muscles at every entrance into the stadium. The police fired tear gas to calm situation when it was becoming rowdy. The police had to take such action when the street urchins constituted threat to innocent people.

    Despite the initial hitches at the entrance, those who were genuinely accredited for the gifts were happy after collecting what was packaged for them.

    Those who were cleared assembled on a single file, and were given cash and other items. The beneficiaries expressed joy that the foundation was reaching out to the poor in order to make them have a sense of belonging during Sallah and Christmas celebrations.

    Speaking to Southwest Report, an official of the foundation, Femi Oyatolu said about 6,000 items were packed for the beneficiaries who had been issued with tickets.

    Oyatolu, who is a Special Assistant to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, explained that the choice of Onikan Stadium was to ensure enough space that will enable the large crowd have easy movement. According to him, the last time the foundation made donation to the poor, 2000 people benefitted.

    Oyatolu noted that those who had tickets would go home with item to enable them celebrate the Sallah. He said the foundation is specifically for the needy, the aged and people whose means of livelihood is unmaintainable.

    He said: “The foundation believes in reaching out to the poor and the needy, to give them something to celebrate, no matter how small, with their families at festival periods.

    “Basically, what his Excellency Asiwaju Tinubu is trying to do is to give back to the society. At least, he tries to give them something that can put smiles on their faces. We have packaged about 6,000 gift items for the people and we will ensure that those who were genuinely accredited get the items.

    One of the beneficiaries, Alhaja Moriamo Sule thanked Asiwaju Tinubu for the gesture. She said that was the second time she had benefited from the foundation, stressing that the collection process in the previous ones was not as hectic as that of Onikan Stadium.

    “It was like a thug of war to get into this venue, but I thank God that my effort yielded results. Now, I will go home to prepare for the Sallah. At least, members of my family will have something to eat, though we will buy some other things apart from what we have gotten.’’

    Seventy-two-year-old Mr. Bolaji Kadiri was not that lucky. He said he arrived at the venue before 7 in the morning but was unable to find his way into the stadium.

    He expressed dismay that street urchins hijacked the purpose which the foundation was meant to serve.

    “You can see them at the gates banging and yelling. Some of them have taken drugs and all manner of things. They are causing trouble for those who want to enter and are even stealing people’s belongings. I have genuine pass to go in for Asiwaju’s Sallah gift, but each time I meander my way, I got stuck. So, I had to retreat for my own safety.

    “The police have tried to disperse them but they have become difficult to control. I am sure they don’t want to fire tear gas because of old people like us. The organisers should think of a better way to address some of the hitches in future. As it is, I may return home without collecting my items today.’’

    Mrs. Rosemary Gbogidi from Somolu Local Government Area said the foundation should decentralise the collection process by holding the event in a more spacious venue, adding that by so doing, the stress would be minimised.

    She said the gesture is a noble one, but it makes no sense if people suffer to receive what was meant to make them happy.

    She said: “This is the first time I had collected the foundation’s gift items and May God bless Asiwaju for what he is doing for the people. He is a great man who hates to see people suffering. He likes the masses to a fault and would not tolerate anybody who makes the people to suffer.

    “I will suggest that the items should be taken to each local government where people who have genuine pass can collect their items. The items should equally be well monitored to prevent diversion of the items by people who may thwart the original purpose of the foundation. May God add more years to the life of Asiwaju because he cares for the less-privileged persons.’’

    One of the disabled persons, Sunday Adesina expressed joy that the physically-challenged were included. He, however, expressed his reservations about the rigorous process which the people went through before they could collect their gifts at the venue.

    He said: “Greet Asiwaju for me. God will be with him. But my wheelchair was compressed when I tried to pass through the gate. Those boys did not even care whether we are physically-challenged or not; they were pushing us here and there. Please, tell Asiwaju to buy me another wheelchair since the one I have had damaged.

    “You can see the rice and other items that I collected. I will take them home so that my mother will eat from it. I am already in the Sallah mood, when I got my gift and cash. May God bless him and the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.’’

    Sherifat Alao, a petty trader, expressed happiness over the gesture, but suggested that the items should not be taken to local government areas for distribution.

    “Asiwaju is the father of the masses; God will continue to bless him. I learnt nobody sees Asiwaju and goes back home sad. They said the man cares for his workers. We will continue to pray from him. I want to also thank his wife, Senator Oluremi who is a strong pillar behind our baba,” she said.

  • Foundation awakens social consciousness through arts

    Foundation awakens social consciousness through arts

    Come July 14, The William and Margaret Foundation would host a performance at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Onikan, Lagos that would feature performances by Funmi Sax, Wole Oguntokun’s Renegade Theatre and Kaffy’s Imagneto Dance Company under its Nigeria Unites project aimed at promoting social awareness and civic participation.

    While people are entertained by the music, dance and drama, initiator of the project, Toyosi Lana, hoped they would not forget the various social-conscious messages embedded in the performances.

    Ms Lana said at a press briefing that the charity show would culminate in the award of grants to individuals and non-governmental organisations whose projects are voted the most impactful.  Voting is currently ongoing on the Nigeria unites website (www.nigeriaunites.org).

    Ms Lana said NGOs and individuals who have been nominated so far are those who are using small resources they can raise to change things that are wrong in their environment.  She said the aim is to get more Nigerians involved in the task of transforming the country in their own little ways.

    “Instead of you waiting for your government, do something about problems around you to help your country. There are some people already doing this so we will recognise them.  We did a call out for nominations which lasted over two months.  The two top charities that win the votes will get financial awards at the programme,” she said.

    Ms Lana said the project is being done in honour of her grandparents, who gave of their little resources to make their communities better.

    Omobola Lana, representative of the board of trustees of the foundation, said the group is raising funds that would be donated to the winning charities.

    “Whatever money we get through the fundraising will be split into two for the best two charities,” she said.

     

  • Foundation donates classrooms, furniture

    Ford Foundation has partnered with a human rights group, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), to put smiles on the faces of pupils of Farm Settlement Community Primary School, Odogunyan, a suburb in Ikorodu.

    Last Thursday, the groups inaugurated a block of six classrooms, six toilets and a borehole. This was in addition to provision of new desks and chairs as well as erecting a perimetre fence on the two-acre land on which the school sits.

    Farm settlement Community Primary School, which has a population of about 100 pupils across diverse backgrounds, was built in 1978.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode urged teachers and pupils to make the best use of the facilities. He also pleaded with well-meaning citizens to partner with government in further lifting education in the state.

    Ambode was represented by Secretary to the State Government Dr Tunji Bello.

    He said: “I believe that you just keyed into our Adopt-a School initiative. We are very grateful for this kind gesture which is why we will call you our partners in progress.”

    The representative for Ford Foundation, Mr Innocent Chukwuma, noted that the projects were intended to enhance the quality of education in the school as well as ensure that the pupils learn in a more secured and conducive environment.

    “We are confident that the projects we are commissioning today will, to a large extent, improve the lot of teachers and pupils of the school. We therefore, want to assure you that our foundation is committed to bringing positive changes to the quality of education in public schools.”

    JODER’s Executive Director, Mr Adewale Adeoye, recalled that the project was identified by the foundation following a mention of its poor state by a staff of the foundation.

    “The best way to appreciate the laudable gesture is for the pupils and teachers of this school to ensure that the facilities are not damaged or misused so that more of this gesture can come to this school,” he added.

    The Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, and the school head teacher Mr Olukoga Adewale extended their gratitude to the donors, and assuring them that the facilities will be well maintained.

  • Foundation seeks law on sickle cell awareness

    The Executive Director of Sickle Cell Foundation, Dr. Anette  Akinsete, has called on the Federal Government to enact laws to increase awareness about sickle cell disorder (SCD).

    According to her, such law will ensure support for SCD through the provision of health management policy, new born screening and health education.

    Akinsete spoke at Sickle Cell Walk for life, organised by the coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Lagos State in commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Day by the United Nation. The walk, which started at the Police College, Lagos ended at EKO FM, Lagos.

    The walk tagged Walk for Life was put together by the Sickle Cell Foundation, Dabman Sickle Cell Foundation, Nike Opalemo Foundation, Tony May Foundation, Crison Bow Nigeria, and Genotype Foundation Nirvana initiatives.

    Akinsete said lack of basic new born screening facilities and major drugs in the management of sickle cell can pose a serious threat to livelihood and survival of people with sickle cell disorder.

    She said the need for newborn screening centres is fitting, urgent and would go a long way to support children and families with sickle cell disorder children.

    She said: “We cannot afford to ignore a hereditary disease that affects over four million Nigerians. In fact, roughly 75 percent of the 150,000 children with SCD die before their fifth birthday.

    Beyond the statistics, we cannot continue to ignore the faces of people in anguish, confusion and often neglected both physical and emotionally because they have sickle cell disorder”.

    She continued: “In a country where we have the highest number of people with sickle cell in the world, they are stigmatised and discriminated as they are called lazy by teachers and denied jobs by some employers. There is need for all stakeholders to come together”.

    She lamented non-availability of basic drugs for the average family with sickle cell children, stressing that doctors and nurses have not gotten a total understanding in managing people with the condition.

    The Chairman, Dabman Sickle Cell Foundation, Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe said the essence of the walk  is for mass enlightenment walk that will lead to change of attitude.

    “We are deploying allavailable resources to campaign for millions who are in pains. To set a largely misinformed and ill-educated public free from the evil of sickle cell disorder,” he said.

    Various information leaflets, handbills, umbrella, face caps, tee-shirts were distributed and songs charted in to raise awareness of sickle cell was part of the walk.

  • Foundation celebrates out-of-school children

    Out-of-School-Children Empowerment Foundation (OSCEF), a non-governmental organsation (NGO),  marked the 2016 Children’s Day putting a smile on the faces of children and  honouring individuals and corporate organisations for their contributions to the society.

    Founder OSCEF, Mr Akeem Kelani, said the body supports government to get out-of-school children back in school. He is optimistic that achieving this will reduce crime in the society.

    “If these children are back in school, the level of poverty, crime, and terrorist attacks will reduce drastically. This is because if you are knowledgeable you will find it difficult to join bad company.”

    He said OSCEF through community effort and field work, has been able to rescue over 2,000 street children and dropouts back to school in Oshodi, Mushin, Agege, Alimosho, Kosofe and other areas, and monitor them effectively.

    Kelani said OSCEF achieved this  through sensitisation programmes and advocacy visits to communities  to educate them about the dangers  of not sending their wards to school.

    He however listed inadequate funding, inadequate school learning materials for the children as part of  challenges the foundation faces.

    Awards were given to second republic governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Lola Akande, former Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) , Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, and Founder, Little Saint Orphanage, Mrs Dele George.

    Thanking the organisation on behalf of the awardees, Mrs Daodu said “What makes it special is the fact that we are concerned about the plight of our children, even those that are already going to school not to talk of thousands of them that are out of school.

    This should be the concern of every individual because the children is our future.”

  • Ambode’s foundation targets leadership mentoring, youth empowerment

    Ambode’s foundation targets leadership mentoring, youth empowerment

    LA Roche Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 2013 by Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has been formally inaugurated.

    The foundation, which was opened to the public at an event attended by eminent personalities on Saturday in Lagos, will offer leadership mentoring and empowerment for the youths.

    It will also attend to the welfare and prosperity of students in all facets of their educational endeavours.

    The governor, who has since stepped aside from active participation in the affairs of the foundation to avoid conflict of interest, was said to have founded the organisation owing to his passion for reaching out to children and young ones, especially by creating and sustaining a positive and enabling educational environment for the students.

    Part of the objectives of the foundation was to sponsor students by way of scholarships, grants and organising capacity-building seminars, workshops and other related activities and opportunities to students and young people, as well as collaborating with other stakeholders such as government agencies, NGOs and foreign bodies to raise awareness on the country’s state of education and intervening with solutions.

    In her welcome address at the event, the foundation’s administrator, Mrs. Marina Oshoba, said the formal launch marked a milestone in the life of La Roche Foundation, as it would offer a relationship between the organisation and the core people it had been working to serve who are the children and young ones.

    She said: “We started our registration process in 2012. But we got our permit by 2013 and even from before then till date, we have been working on our six projects which are the Flags Project, Tool Box Project, Internship Project, Toy Box Project, Support Our Schools Project and Our Chosen Youth Project.

    “Since we got our new facility last year May, we are now fine-tuning our in-house work such as our Book Bank, E-library, Mobile Library, Resource Centre and E-book Club. We have a Facebook page and we have a blog that we write every two weeks where we talk about education and leadership mentoring.”

    For instance, the administrator said through the schools support project, the foundation hoped to answer to infrastructural needs of schools in Lagos State and work with manufacturers of building and construction materials, building technology professionals and other well-meaning sponsors to help refurbish and upgrade public schools.

    The foundation, according to its administrator, has so far won three awards for projects executed at Government Technical College, Agidingbi; St. Jude’s Primary School, Ebute-Metta and Ojokoro Community Library.

    On funding, Mrs. Oshoba said the Board of La Roche Leadership Foundation was not presently favourably disposed to the idea of soliciting for funds from the public, but felt the foundation has to first build track record.

    She added that she believe that people must first see what the foundation has been able to do to be persuaded to give.

    Chairman of the Foundation and retired Justice of the Supreme Court Justice George Oguntade said the essence of such foundation could not be down played, as it would go a long way in reaching out to people.

    He said: “If you look at the starting position of the Nigerian society, you will know that we are virtually at the end of the ladder in almost all aspects and so foundations like this will hasten development in Nigeria and I think it is commendable.”

    Justice Oguntade, however, expressed the hope that the foundation would be replicated across the state and later across the country, so that the advantages can be evenly distributed.

    Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Oversees Affairs Prof. Ademola Abass said a foundations such as La Roche would help reach out to people, who are often overlooked by mainstream governmental agencies in the society either because their needs do not fall within the mainframe policies of government at any given point in time.

  • Foundation empowers youths

    Foundation empowers youths

    The Sarah Adebisi Sosan, (SAS) Foundation plans to give soft loans to youths in Irewe riverine community  of Lagos State.

    The initiative, which is anchored on the SAS new project, tagged: “Training for Rural Economic Development (TRED)”, held a two-day empowerment programme for Irewe youths.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the Foundation, Mrs. Hameedat Balogun, the session had over 200 participants from the community.

    She said participants were trained on various empowerment schemes, which included how to produce liquid soap, body cream, shoes and bags and mosquito repellants.

    Balogun explained that the project was aimed at giving additional sources of income to the youth in the community aside their traditional fishing and mat making job.

    She said to further encourage the youths, the Foundation will also grant the youth soft loans to start their own small scale businesses.

    Some of the participants expressed gratitude to SAS for extending its activities to the community.

    A beneficiary, Temitope Oyefolu, said the scheme is a way of lifting the people out of poverty by enriching their lives through self empowerment.

    She thanked the founder of SAS, Princess Adebisi Sarah Sosan, for giving back to her community.

  • 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.”