The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, in the company of top government functionaries, has made donations to no fewer than twelve orphanage homes in Ibadan, the state capital.
Food items such as bags of rice, salt, detergent, bleach, noodles, sanitary items and kegs of vegetable oil and cash running into millions of naira were presented by the wife of the governor to the various homes, which were randomly selected, to cater to the needs of the children, in continuation of efforts to support the homes.
A call
The wife of the governor, who was full of appreciation to the caregivers and managers at the various homes, charged them to take the job as a call, saying their little effort is required to shape the lives of the children.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the visitation, Makinde said the donations were done in the spirit of showing love and care to the motherless, vulnerable, street children and children with special needs, which the just concluded Easter season preaches.
While pledging the support of the government to the homes, especially those who are yet to be reached in the last three years that the effort had started, she said the government would not give up on ensuring that all homes are reached, as the unrelenting efforts in managing the special children are highly appreciated by the government.
Makinde appealed to the benefiting children not to be let down by the present situation in the country but be resolute in achieving their dreams and desires in life, imploring them to optimise the various trainings they get at their homes to be better individuals and assured of continued personal support and that of the state government.
She called on philanthropists and kind-hearted individuals to be keen and passionate about making a difference in the society, especially providing care for the less privileged, the disabled and children with special needs in the society.
Visited homes
The visit and donation, which covered both private and government-owned homes, extended to the Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Moniya; Oyo State Child Care Unit; Oyo State Juvenile Correctional Institution, Ijokodo; His Heritage Home, Oluyole Extension; Winnies Castle Orphanage, Challenge and Adekanola Comfort Orphanage Home, Olodo.
Others are: Make a Future Alive Initiative Home, Adegbayi; Bosco Boys Street Children Home, Ogungbade; Adeyanju Taiwo Centre for Persons/Children with Special Needs.
In their separate remarks, the heads of the orphanage homes including: Taiwo Oparemi of Adeyanju Taiwo Centre for Persons/Children with Special Needs; Fr Charles Uzoeto of Bosco Boys Street Children Home, Ogungbade; Mrs Kehinde Ayeola of Winnies Castle Orphanage Home, Felele and Olabisi Bello of His Heritage Home, Oluyole Extension, appreciated the gesture of Mrs Makinde.
Commendation
They all commended the wife of the governor for the initiative, with some of them saying it is the first time they would receive such a gesture from any governor’s wife in the state.
Makinde was accompanied by government functionaries including the commissioners for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Olayiwola; Ministry of Special Duties, Alhaja Faosat Joke-Sanni; a former Senior Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Diaspora, Mrs Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Victoria Abioye and other top officials of the ministries.
Olusola Akintonde
