Kudos For Mrs Sanwo-Olu As Group Marks World Orphans Day In Lagos

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Members of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria, ASOHON, Lagos Chapter, on Thursday gathered at Ikeja to mark this year World Orphan’s Day as they give kudos to the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Joke Sanwo-Olu, for her kindness and passion for the less privileged in the society.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that during the celebration, the coordinator of the ASOHON, Lagos chapter, Alhaji Prince Ganiyu Dosunmu, noted that Mrs. Sanwo-Olu provided succour to the orphans and less privileged at various orphanage homes in the State especially during the Covid-19 lockdown when the economy was at standstill yet she provided for the less privileged in the State.

Alhaji Dosunmu also used the occasion to appeal to the Lagos State Government extend health insurance scheme and free education to the orphans in the State in fulfillment of the promise they made in the past to reduce the plight of the operators, who are funding the welfare of the orphans in the society.

He explained that the operators spend huge sums of money for medical and education bills on orphanages and homes which if  the government takes the schemes, it will reduce pressure from orphanage homes in the State.

He thanked the State Government and the general public, who have been contributing to the welfare of the orphans and pleaded for more assistance to enable the orphans to have sense of belonging in the society. 

Alhaji Dosunmu urged the Government and the public to wary of fake homes that are not registered and urged that they should be disregarded because they were not among the 60 registered homes in the State.

On World Orphans Day, Alhaji Dosunmu stated that it was a special day set aside to draw attention to the plight of the world’s orphans and people are encouraged to actively participate in helping raise awareness, support, and funding for motherless and fatherless children worldwide. 

Some of the members spoke on the challenges of managing orphanage homes due to lack of funds which was not available when needed.

 The Chief Executive Officer of So-Said Charity Homes for the Vulnerable persons, Mrs. Concern Felicia Martins, said it has not been easy to manage homes adding that what had been keeping them moving are passion and commitment to serve God through service humanity. She explained that her home goes to the streets to pick vulnerable persons and rehabilitate such persons to be useful in the society.

Mrs Martins said that the motivations they get from the government is that they are recognized and they realized that the work is enormous and government cannot do it alone and so the operators are partnering with the government.

She urged the government to give more support to operators to be able to manage home effectively because there are no much funds. 

Another, operator, Iman Hassan, of the Bab-ES- Salam homes, said that they view the obligations as call from God which entails passion and commitment. He said that the home has been surviving due to efforts of individuals and organizations who have been supportive. He noted that there is no home that has self sufficiency and that is why the public and government should continue to support various orphanage homes in Nigeria.

Some other members spoke and urged the government to give more assistance to the orphanage homes in order to perform better.