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Groups urge Nigerians to foster vulnerable, orphan children
Groups urge Nigerians to foster vulnerable, orphan children
Some Islamic religious groups have called on Nigerians to foster orphans and vulnerable children to reduce number of street children, insecurity and enable them harness their potentials.
They made the appeal during the 2023 awareness walk, themed “Fostering…Reviving Sunnah”, organised by Halal Children’s Home in Abuja.
Hajiya Ramatu Abubakar, the President, Halal Children’s Home, emphasised the benefits of fostering less privileged children and reintegrating them into homes.
Abubakar said fostering these children would enable them feel loved and guide them towards harnessing potentials, adding that the organisation had so far found several families and homes for some of the orphaned and vulnerable children.
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“The increasing cases of orphans, we can do better. Everyday we have about 10,000 orphaned children; that is a staggering number, so let’s not just talk about it, but do something about it.
“Being able to take a child into your home does not diminish your love, but increases your capacity to love, so let’s not let the fear of poverty or decrease stop us from doing what we can for these children.
“Our aim is to make them productive citizens. We rehabilitate them so that they can enter into the society very easily. So let us open our homes and let’s build a better future for our country,” she urged.
She also appealed to the government to make more provisions or modification for fostering in the constitution that would allow Muslims take up these children legally.
“For the government, we will like to see a drive for making that fostering more visible, each state has a different Child’s Rights Act.
“So we will like to see the provision for fostering as it is in the Islamic sense of the word because there are differences between the adoption process and the fostering.
“The fostering is what Muslims can do. A lot of Muslims do not got through the adoption process because our faith is an important part of us.
“So, if we can have the laws changed or modified to allow more Muslims take up these children and even the documentation should be made more easier,” she advised.
Dr Abdulfattah Adeyemi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Baynakum Family Counseling Centre, Abuja, expressed concern over the increasing numbers of orphans and vulnerable children roaming around the streets.
“Many of these children that we see have bright future ahead of them, only if we contribute or do something for them.
“If we allow them to roam round the streets, they can be susceptible to criminals, who may adopt them and give them the life we have refused to give them and make them carry out some criminal activities.
“There are people who do a lot of nefarious activities against the law and they recruit these vulnerable children on the street.
“So, we are helping ourselves as individuals and as a nation, when we carry out these responsibility. It is Godly, civic and what we need now for humanity, especially in action building,” he said.
He, therefore, urged religious leaders to encourage people to adopt or foster vulnerable, orphans and street children to enable them reach their potentials and contribute to national development.
“I urge religious leaders to discuss and encourage people to foster so that the humanity in us is not just to worship God and go to paradise, we should also be concerned about humanity,” he said.
Also, Naimat Akewusola, Public Relations Officer, Amani Muslim Women Empowerment Initiative, said:
“We are here to support Halal Home sensitise the public on ways to keep the children off the street.
“With these awareness, a lot of people are now aware that they can actually foster these children and take them into their homes as this will help to reduce the number of street children in our society,” she said.
Dr Saheed Alimo, Consultant Neurologist, commended the organisers for engaging the public not only on religious aspects, but health talks and free medical care to improve their health and wellbeing.
Alimo also advised the public to engage in regular exercise, adopt healthy lifestyle and eat well to improve their health.
Groups urge Nigerians to foster vulnerable, orphan children
FG Intervention Programs Aim to Benefit All Nigerians, Says Minister
Alhaji Muhammad Idris, Minister of Information, has affirmed that the Federal Government’s intervention programs are designed to benefit all Nigerians.
Speaking during a sensitization event on the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s policy framework, in Yola on Thursday, Idris emphasized the wide-reaching nature of these programs. Represented by Rhoda Maina, Head of the Federal Information Resource Center in Yola, the minister outlined various initiatives aimed at improving citizens’ lives.
These initiatives include the disbursement of over N2.9 billion for a student loan scheme, empowerment programs, and the Digital and Creative Enterprise Program. Additional efforts focus on consumer credit, a natural gas initiative, housing, Nano business support, and the National Youth Talents Export Program.
Mr. Jonah Agye, Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Adamawa, expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with federal and state agencies to promote these initiatives at the grassroots level. He urged participants to spread the word in their communities and encouraged public support for government policies.
In his remarks, Mr. James Iliya, Adamawa State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, expressed gratitude to the federal government and President Tinubu for the interventions. He urged beneficiaries to make the most of these opportunities to improve their lives. Iliya also noted that Adamawa State aligns with the Federal Government’s policies to ensure its residents benefit from these initiatives.
Alhaji Idris Shuaibu, chairman of the event, commended the Federal Government’s efforts and advised those implementing the programs to ensure that they reach the most vulnerable citizens.
Empowered for a New Life: UNFPA Supports 50 Rehabilitated Fistula Survivors in Gombe
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has empowered 50 rehabilitated Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) survivors in Gombe State through a collaborative program with the Government of Norway.
At the graduation ceremony held in Gombe on Thursday, Dr. Bajowa Lanre, UNFPA’s Sexual Reproductive Health Analyst, reiterated the agency’s commitment to eradicating obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition that occurs during childbirth. He highlighted that UNFPA continues to provide life-saving surgeries for women affected by fistula and severe perinatal tears in Nigeria, working towards a future where maternal mortality and related conditions are eliminated.
Obstetric fistula, an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina, is often stigmatized in communities, bringing shame and social isolation to survivors. “No woman should endure this experience,” said Lanre, emphasizing the physical and emotional toll it takes on women and families.
The empowerment initiative, which equips survivors with vocational skills and tools, is seen as key to reintegrating them into society. Sewing machines, grinding machines, popcorn processing equipment, and transportation stipends were provided to help the women become economically self-sufficient.
Gombe’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms. Asmau’u Iganus, expressed gratitude for the initiative. Represented by Mrs. Abu Hassan, she noted that the program would enhance the survivors’ livelihood and boost their social and economic wellbeing.
Dr. Musa Issa, Executive Director of the Fistula Foundation Nigeria, praised the collaboration between UNFPA, the Norwegian government, and the state, calling the empowered women role models who can inspire others in their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Safiyanu Moses, shared her journey from being ostracized due to the condition’s effects to regaining hope for a brighter future. “This intervention has transformed my life,” she said. “I will use this empowerment to help my family and community while raising awareness about treatment for others.”
The program aims to foster support systems for fistula survivors and reduce the stigma associated with the condition in Gombe State and beyond.
WAFU Qualifiers: Mailantarki Care FC beat Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 1-0
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles …
The Nigeria National team U-20 (Flying Eagles) suffered a defeat in the hands of Mailantarki Care FC in one of its series of preparatory games on Wednesday in Abuja.
The reigning Champions of the 2024 International Youth Championship in Denmark (Dana Cup) produced an all-around performance against the Nigeria National team outfit, the Flying Eagles at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s U-20 team began preparation last week ahead of the upcoming WAFU Championship scheduled in Togo, where the representatives of the zone in the 2025 U-20 nations cup will emerge.
Sensational wing wizard Miko Dalha scored the only goal of the game following a delightful footwork before smashing into the near post before the break.
The host could have equalized from the spot deep into the game just for Mailantarki goalie Abbati Muhammed to punch away the penalty kick. However, the Flying Eagles defeated Water FC 1-nil in its first game courtesy of Bayelsa United forward Rabiu Abdullahi.
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