In furtherance of his commitment to putting smiles on faces of the less privileged in the society cutting across tribes, religion, and ethnicity, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, through his Hopes Alive Initiative, has donated a vocational centre equipped with various facilities to So-Said Charity Home in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government of Abia State.
The Deputy Convener of Hopes Alive Initiative, Miss Temitope Adesegun, said the home has lacked a vocational centre since it was established 22 years ago, adding that the decision to put a structure for the rehabilitated members of the home was to empower them to become useful to themselves and their immediate environment.
“Hopes Alive Initiative is cutting across boundaries just to empower people. His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye is a wonderful father, a great motivator and selfless humanitarian, one whose love for humanity transcends across all tribes, races, religion, culture and whatever gender.
“I believe that God divinely created the Ooni for the less privileged to make them happy and live a fulfilled life, I would say we are here in Abia State according to God’s directive, who ordered our steps to be here for a very unique set of people created by God but abandoned by relatives.
“The home is reforming these set of people through Mrs. Felicia Martins, founder of So-Said Charity Homes who is doing a great job of impacting lives. Our coming here is to add value to what she is doing by rehabilitating this set of people and in order to compliment her efforts, we decided to establish a vocational centre well equipped for training of these people after their rehabilitation process”, she said.
Welcoming the team to Umuahia, the Enyi Abia, Eze Raphael Mbagu, described the Ooni of Ife as a true humanitarian who has proved that Nigerians are one family and should not allow tribalism to tear them apart.
The Nonagenarian prayed for long life for the Ooni who was represented by Oba Taofeek Oshunmakinde, the Obawure of Ife and his Emese who conveyed the Ooni’s staff of office to the event.
In response, Martins said with seven branches across the country, the home was established for the vulnerable persons on the street and has been operating for over 22 years to rescue those who had fallen on the path.
According to her, the initial plan was to focus on mentally derailed people, but they later realised that not all persons roaming the streets are mentally ill but there are women with marital issues who are sent packing from their matrimonial homes, children who lost their way home, special children with syndromes, prostitutes, beggars and people with challenge in different areas.
She said over the years the home has focused on mentally ill persons and children with syndrome, as well as those retired to the roads due to their challenges, adding that those are the group of people the home rescues.
Martins said the Ooni’s gesture shows a true humanitarian who has left himself for God to use devoid of tribalism, ethnic or religion whose love knows no bound and has made giving part of his life.
Over the years, she said the home has expanded through the help of philanthropists, who decided to train them before they go back to the society.
