By Peace Obi
With a thought on the plight of the less privileged children and the need to extend love and care to them, the Business Administration Department, Class of 2015 of the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos (UNILAG) during a recent visit to the orphanage wing of the Red Cross Society in Makoko, Lagos donated some materials to the home.
The team, led by the Chairman, Organising Committee for the ceremony that marked the completion of their five-year programme, Mr. Christian Okpalifo, said the class decided to channel the leftover funds generated by the students for the event to charity as a way of thanking God for the successful completion of their studies.
Stressing that it is no longer easy for families to meet the needs of their children, Okpalifo wondered how charity homes will be faring in a time like this given the harsh economic situation of the country.
A member of the planning committee, Mr. Cookey Godpower, said while the class has a lot of things and reasons to be grateful to God for, the successful completion of their studies at UNILAG in spite of all the challenges encountered on the way remains one major reason.
“We see ourselves privileged, having gone through life and decided to go back to school to have our university education. And having gone through the university system and scaled through different challenges and hurdles that we faced in the course of our studies, we feel obliged to appreciate God by extending our hands of fellowship to the children in this home.”
Appreciating the group’s gesture, the Administrative Officer of the home, Mrs. Gloria Chiekwe, said the fund that may be referred to as a leftover is never a leftover for the home, adding that every donation goes a long way in helping the home meet its needs and those of the children.
She said the home welcomes every visit and kind donations made by any individual or corporate organisations, adding that such acts of kindness put smiles on the faces of the children. She said the expression of joy in the hearts of the children could be felt through their willingness to play with the visitors and their reluctance to let them to go.
“Our children depend on people like you, corporate organisations and other public-spirited individuals who come around to put smiles on the first faces of these children just as you have done today. If other members of the society can imitate your act of love for the less privileged, I think these children will continue to have a good and blessed time here.”
Stressing that the home accommodates children with varying needs and challenges, Chiekwe said support can come either in cash or kind. “We are able to cope when we have people like you come around to play with them and give them whatever you have. Feel free to identify with the home anytime you wish to.”
