Stakeholders have been urged to invest in the education and basic needs of orphans and the vulnerable to promote Nigeria’s security.
The appeal was made by the Chief Executive Officer of FBS Reinsurance Limited, Mr Fola Daniel, while donating the sum of N600,000, electronics, foodstuffs, sewing machines and grinding machines, among other items, to two orphanage homes on Sunday in Abuja.
The homes visited are Halal Children’s Homes, Lifecamp and Heritage Orphanage Home, Gwarimpa.
While commending the caregivers for their love, sacrifices and commitment to the children, Daniel encouraged other stakeholders to contribute towards the growth and development of the children.
He warned that ignoring or failing to support orphans, vulnerable and street children will further expose them to negative vices that will be detrimental to their well-being, the nation and the society at large.
“We should all join hands to do the needful, to help the less privileged, vulnerable and orphaned children in the society.
“By doing so, Nigeria will be a safe society and we can sleep with our two eyes closed. But if we do not look after them, we are developing an army of bandits tomorrow and you will not enjoy the comfort of your home.
“Society is not safe because some of us neglect to look after the less privileged, and vulnerable and help them. If we had done this, maybe, Nigeria would be a safer place,’’ he said.
Daniel noted that the initiative was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, which is to identify with the less privileged, show love and render support to them.
He said, “My call to all other corporate, social and private individuals is to sow a seed of love in places like this. And not forgetting those who have given their lives to these children need to be supported and encouraged.
“No government can take care of all the problems in society. So we need to join hands with corporate institutions, the government and local authorities to do what they are doing and make sure that we can extend assistance,‘’ he said.
Daniel further reiterated their commitment to sustaining the initiatives, especially in areas of education, basic needs and food.
“Once we know this is one of their needs, we will be ready to support them because these children need to be educated, if they are not educated, they become a danger to society and all of us,’’ he said.
A representative of Heritage Home, Mrs Afiniki Godsent, expressed appreciation on behalf of the orphans and vulnerable children and solicited educational support for 14 of them currently residing.
She said, “Many of them are on scholarships and the young ones are supposed to start school anytime soon, but the cost of living is high, which will prove very difficult for us.
“So we solicit for scholarship support to enable them to have access to quality education that will make them productive in the future.”
On her part, the Administrative Officer of Halal Children’s Home, Halima Badamosi, said there are 55 children, ranging from seven months to 18 years, residing in their two branches.
She added that the interventions were timely as some of the items donated would enable the children to acquire skills acquisition that will further empower them apart from the formal education.
She, however, solicited the donation of solar energy due to the epileptic power supply and the high cost of maintaining the home’s generating set used as an alternative power supply.
(NAN)
