The Lagos Channel Management (LCM) on Thursday donated N4 million to orphanages and special schools inLagos, stressing that it was its humble but symbolic way of identifying with the helpless, at Yuletide seasons.
Donations of a million Naira each were made to two orphanages and two special schools by LCM’s Head of Human Resources, Barrister Ifalade Oyekan, represented the Managing Director, Danny Fuchs.
He said the gesture was to encourage the recipients to remain dedicated to God and selfless service, knowing full well, that several individuals and corporate organizations, including the LCM, the nation’s foremost dredging company perpetually bore them in mind.
Prince Oyekan, accompanied by a team of journalists in the course of the donations, moved from a Cerebral palsy school at Surulere, to the Orthopedic Special School at Igbobi; then to the Courage Education Foundation at Obanikoro and finally to the Nigerian Red Cross Society Home for abandoned children and the motherless, located at Yaba.
The founder of the Cerebral Palsy School, located in high brow Bode Thomas area of Surulere ,Nonye Nweke, stated that she established the place; nearly five years ago to cater for kids, who ordinarily most parents would want to throw away, as a result of stigmatization.
She described cerebral palsy as a disease that attacks the muscles and nerves, leaving them weak and redundant. Consequently, the baby though may remain thoroughly intelligent, but nonetheless may remain incapable of effectively controlling his bodily postures or movement. The founder said she took the decision of running such a school to enable her spend enough time with her own daughter, who also suffers from cerebral palsy. Before the inception of the care home , the location was then a thriving modern day eatery, where customs were treated to highly delicious meals.
Nonye Nweke explained that cerebral palsy usually developed as a result of inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain at birth, especially that vital period before a baby begins to cry, after delivery! She explained that the longer the delay for the baby, before he begins to cry and breathe in oxygen, the higher the severity of the ailment.
The school has various pupils, with varying care needs. Nonye told the delegation the story of a kid who was the first child of a young couple. There was a three year old who sat on a chair, but unable to move his necks. Another child was being assisted by a teacher, because he couldn’t eat on his own.
It was clearly understandable that the school actually needed medical supplies and a school bus, for moving the pupils. They would also need money for infrastructure upgrading. However, when she was asked if there was anything the Government was doing for them, she kept mute; which perhaps was her modest way of ensuring that she does not speak evil of any body, government inclusive.
She however indicated that her school was the first centre in Nigeria, established to cater to kids suffering cerebral palsy!
Perhaps, it may be safer at this point to warn: Don’t ever visit the Courage Education Foundation, if you are not yet ready to become a foster parent! First the facility is small for the onerous task the foundation has taken upon itself; secondly the ever-bright eyes students would convince you that any investment made on them would be justified. And finally, the Head of the Foundation, Princess Abimbola Ajagunna keeps clean, prudent and convincing accounts of every kobo that finds its way into her coffer.
She highlighted that the Centre was established to scout around for highly brilliant kids who had dropped out of schools, because of lack of funds. Subsequently, they make their recruitments either on the streets, interviewing kids hawking, or based on reports from schools of pupils who though brilliant. To catch Princess Ajagunna’s attention, the pupil must be very brilliant!
One shining example at the centre is Marian, who became party of the community nine years back, because her “Mai-guard” father could no longer continue to fund her education. Today, she is in a private university, living as a good ambassador of the school and ‘blowing’ Queens English, as if she was being specially prepared for the life of a vibrant broadcaster!
When she got her N1 million LCM cheques, she first shouted: “Wow, Wow….wow!” then, sent for more of her students who momentarily joined her in a show of appreciations!
“This is wonderful. Haa, this is remarkable. Wow! We have to come to your office, to specially thank you. And when we are coming, I may also come with two students, to enable you see how we are spending your donations! I tell you, this is remarkable!” she stressed again.
The Head of theOrthopedicSpecialSchool, domiciled insideOrthopedicHospital, Igbobi,Lagos, Mrs. Vero Aibinuomo, was a delight to watch pampering her students. She was particularly grateful to the Lagos State Government for the various ways Government had been attentive to the needs of her school and teachers.
The school was specifically founded to meet the needs of students with either physical or mental challenges, some of which may have developed as a result of accidents during pregnancy, or at early years of development or as a result of early bouts of attacks.
Was there something missing in her school which could make a difference, since Government alone could not do everything? She did not blink before mentioning a car or bus, because she saw it as a vital need of some of her physically challenged students, which sometimes showed in dire emergency!
It was all fun, until the LCM gave her the cheque.
First, she hugged some mentally challenged, identical twins; then, she called out to other members of staff, jubilating that a private organization was wiling to partner with the State Government in the care of the challenged students!
Aibinuomo pleaded that we stayed longer, but if had listened to her, how late would we have arrived at the Red Cross Society Home for the abandoned and the motherless, where the Home Matron, Mrs. Juliana Obanife, a prayer-warrior never left anyone in doubt as to the genuineness of her love for the kids; as she welcomed us into a special hospitality that often characterizes the Red Cross Society.
Created in 1964 by an Act of Parliament, the Matron indicated that the Home has 34 kids, consisting of 18 boys and 16 girls. Only one has mental challenge; and she was so friendly that everyone was instantly attracted to her.
Her children looked especially well fed, well dressed, chubby cheeks and observably very happy. They were also very friendly. No wonder the security man at the gate had forced all of us to have a generous dosage of hand-sanitizer. Especially if he felt you would be offended, should he insist that you wash your hand with soap at the nearby washing hand basing.
“We never lack. Our strength lies in prayers; and God is never ever tired of exceeding our expectations. If we lacked milk in the morning, I would call in everybody and we would pray; before evening, milk would be here. ..” she said, outlandishly praising her assistants who she blessed for their special passion for prayers.
Statutorily, the Home was established to cater for abandoned and motherless children from the ages of one to three years. But some of the kids who were above three years and were still in the Home, was because their parents had for one reasons or another, renege on promises made to come for them at age three, and melted into thin air!
She told the reporters that while the National Red Cross headquarters would naturally send a little allowance on yearly basis, the bedrock of their supplies came from kindly individuals in the community, adding that some individuals sometimes dropped their complimentary cards, with the instructions that they may be contacted, if things got too hot!
When she saw the cheque, she simply broke into God-praising songs, as she confirmed that she had indeed been praying to God, concerning a divine intervention for miraculous provision of money to procure some interlocking, because while she could not stop the children in the home from running around and playing; her major concern had however been on the issue of dust which could also be a harbinger of germs.
In touching lives, perhaps no organization in the maritime industry may be as consistent and dedicated as the Lagos Chanel Management, which in the past six years, has devotedly, donated N5 million to five different homes and institutions!