The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Thursday donated 148 bags of rice, noodles, and detergent to 14 orphanages as part of support to the vulnerable in the state.
The state APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, distributing the items at the party secretariat, said that the party’s leadership considered it important to reach out to the less privileged during the ongoing Lent and Ramadan period.
Ojelabi, who appreciated the operators of orphanages and homes for assisting members of the public and complementing the efforts of the state government, described their efforts as huge tasks.
“Using your little resources to sustain those who are less privileged in the society is a difficult task.
“We recognise your efforts in looking after them and taking care of them to make them better citizens.
“As we recognise what you are doing, we deem this necessary. It is not that we are buoyant, but our token is to let you know that we recognise the sort of service you are rendering to the members of the public.
“It is to let you know that within the limited resources at our own disposal, we want to reach out to you to say thank you.
“If we have some people that have dedicated their own resources and their lives in complementing the efforts of the government, I think you deserve our support, and that is what we have done,” he said
Ojelabi said that if the orphans were totally neglected, they would become a problem in the society.
According to him, the APC leadership wants to make sure that the orphans are comfortable, and that the party will continue to expand and see how best to bring in more orphanages into the net.
Ojelabi, who promised to partner with genuine non governmental associations like orphanages, said that the APC government was committed to reducing poverty and hardship.
He said that the government had been alleviating the pains of the masses in the area of education, health, skills acquisitions, empowerments and others.
The chairman said, “It is the determination of our government to make sure that our youths are better equipped for the future.
“What you are doing is a clever way of partnering with the state government.
“We are happy with what you are doing. All of us need to be our brother’s keeper in one way or the other.”
In his remarks, the APC spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, said that the party remained compassionate and pro-people, adding that the gift items should serve the deserved purposes.
Oladejo said that as a progressive party that cares for every segment of the society, the Lagos APC would not leave orphanages and the underprivileged behind.
Speaking, Chief Kehinde Adeniyi, the Lagos APC Welfare Secretary, applauded Ojelabi for the idea and initiative.
He said that the donated items were for orphanages and homes spread across the three senatorial districts in the state.
According to him, Lagos Central Senatorial District has 37 bags of rice; Lagos West Senatorial District has 74 bags of rice while the Lagos East also has 37 bags of rice aside other items.
“For this maiden edition, we are servicing 14 orphanages because we want the materials to be enough.
“We will consider other orphanages in subsequent editions. We know orphanages are helping society a lot,” Adeniyi said.
Responding, Alhaji Ganiyu Dosunmu, the Coordinator, Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), commended the party executives for the initiative, promising that the gesture would get to the orphans.
Dosunmu, who noted that the association comprised 74 members, said that if orphans were trained, so many problems would be addressed including security.
He urged the government and corporate organisations to support orphanages in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that beneficiaries include Mother Theresa Home, Home of God’s Grace for Widows, Raco Child and Rural Care, Child Life Line Rehabilitation Home, Finger of Good Orphanages, and Living Foundation Orphanage.
Others are Chosen Child Orphanage and Care Centre, Compassion Orphanage, Little Saints Orphanage, Last Hope Orphanage, Peace of Life Orphanage, Beautiful Gate Orphanage, Mary’ Perpetual Orphanage, and Waymark Image-Life World Liberation Home. (NAN)