Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, marked his 64th birthday, expressing gratitude to Nigerians for their love and affection.
At a brief ceremony organised by members of staff of the Office of the Vice President, thanked the Almighty God and Nigerians for the love and affection shown to him so far.
“I must say that I am extremely grateful to the Almighty God for preserving my life to this day, 64th birthday and to say how deeply indebted I am to the Nigerian people and to so many who have shown so much love and so much affection and so many across the nation who have wished me a happy birthday,” the vice president said, praying God to “celebrate them just as they have celebrated me.”
Among those who attended the ceremony to mark the vice president was the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Umar Tijani, who described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as “somebody who is studious; somebody who absolutely understands and he is also a boss who cares.”
According to Tijani, Osinbajo “portrays the very clear sign that every staff member matters to him. There is this unbelievable empathy when you deal with the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for this every staff member is happy today that he is celebrating his 64th birthday.”
Earlier on Monday, some members of staff of the Office of the Vice President donated items to two orphanages in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in celebration of the 64th birthday of Professor Osinbajo.
The orphanages visited were the Abuja Children’s Home, Karu and FCT Unity Children’s Home, Gwako, Gwagwalada.
Items donated to the homes are bags of rice, cartons of biscuits, cartons of detergents, cartons of pasta, cartons of noodles, blankets mosquito nets, diapers, toiletries, packs of cooked food and drinks among others.
Identify with the less-privileged
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ade Ipaye, who led the team, said it has become the tradition of the staff in his Office of the Vice President to identify with the less-privileged as part of the vice president’s birthday celebration.
“On March 8 every year, we get together; we put some money together; buy things that might be needed by the less-privileged; such as the children here; and we come to present them to them and interact a bit with them just to mark.
“Obviously, when you want to give, you give to needy first; these are children, orphans, we are concerned to see that they are comfortable; that they are not deprived; they are already deprived of their real parental care not withstanding people here taking good care of them.
“We also want to do whatever we can to ease what they are doing and ease the lives of the children
“Last year, we also got some solar power to one of the homes; so, we also look for things that we can do that will make their lives instantly improved,’’ he said.
An administrative staff of Abuja Children’s Home, Felix Inaede, said that it was a very great opportunity to have visitors from the Presidential Villa.
“This is not the only home in Abuja; we are very happy that this home was chosen for this kind of visit.
“As you can see, the children are very happy and it is wonderful. It is great to have this kind of visit.
“The items will go a long way; at this time in the country, the items will go along way–food, materials, mosquito nets to prevent malaria, blankets for sleeping,’’ he said.
No fewer than 68 children are in the orphanage.
At FCT Unity Children’s Home, Gwako, a staff of the home, Janet Ogar, said that the children and administrators were lucky to have a look in from the seat of power.
“It means a lot for us; It is a rare privilege for the vice president to come and celebrate with us here.
“ I take it as a privilege to us and the children and we appreciate the vice president and say thank you.
“We wish him good health; long life and prosperity,’’ he said.
The number of children in the Gwako orphanage was 66.
Lateefah Ibrahim
