By, Hannah Omowumi

 

Prominent Nigerians, including Prof. Chinedum Peace-Babalola and Abiodun Olatunji, SAN, have called on the government and well-meaning individuals to support orphanages and education initiatives to reduce crime and promote equality in society.

Speaking at the official commissioning of Oyiza Orphanage and Foster Foundation at Felele, Prof. Babalola who said the foundation has succeeded on the Sustainable development goals 1-4 and 10, emphasized the need for government support for organizations like Oyiza Foundation, which provides education and care to orphaned children. She suggested that the government should provide funding, resources, or even buildings to support such initiatives.

“Charity work is usually a non-governmental agencies’ work.Although, responsible governments are supposed to take care of everybody. If you travel outside this country, nobody really suffers. Go to US, UK, they even have welfare funds to help the helpless.”

“Government in Nigeria need to do more than they are doing. For me for instance, they can’t do everything. If they see people, or agency like Oyiza and other organizations working hard on what they cannot take care of. Then, they should support. There are many buildings that governments have without use. I remember going towards Samonda in Ibadan, there are certain buildings there; they can give to charity organizations who are helping the government a lot.”

” I propose funds endowment and federal Government student Loan Scheme, NELFUND for the organization as to remove pressure now or later in future.”, she said.

In his contribution, a legal and child welfare expert, Abiodun Olatunji, SAN, raised concern as many orphanages in Nigeria lack basic necessities and that supporting them is crucial to reducing crime rates.

He urged Nigerians to give back to society and called on the government to increase its budget for education and ensure proper implementation.

“Many orphanages in Nigeria suffer from all basic needs of life. If we don’t support, invest and encourage them, the rate of crimes in the country will continue to grow.”

” The government’s ministries should improve its budget and monitor the application of the budget do due implementation for a greater impacts on education of all citizens, especially the less privileged.”, he noted.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, represented by Aota Iyalode of Ibadanland, Chief Yetunde Adegoke, credited the Oyiza Foundation’s efforts and emphasized the importance of education in eradicating poverty.

” It’s a great game of dream and passion. She has just given them a new life, unfailing new love, new hope, new dreams because the best you can give to a less privileged is education as to eradicate poverty.”

” I advise the government to look toward this of a project and support homes for a better society to reduce the out of school population”, she said

Earlier, Nurse and Administrators of the Oyiza Foundation, Mrs. Joy Taiwo and Idris Ige who revealed their efforts at providing education and support to the orphaned children within their care, expressed gratitude to the public support, calling for more assistance for expanded education and social focus of the organization.

” We need education sustainability, mobility and scholarships of variety to our less privileged”, they said.

The event which featured award presentation to over thirty individuals who have sustained the foundation since 2005, Ebira Display, facility tour among others, was greatly attended by Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs( Child Welfare) officials, Chairman Oyo State @50 and two term federal lawmaker, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, Wife of Founder of FreshFM, Mrs. Temitope Ayefele, local and international donors.