To cushion the effect of subsidy removal among the less privileged, an NGO, Transformation Opportunities Providers (TOP) Foundation, has distributed palliatives to the vulnerable at Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home/School in Lagos State.
The palliatives included food items such as bags of rice, cartons of noodles, beverages, oil, sanitaries, among others.
Mr Jide Ologun, the Vice President of the TOP foundation, who gave the items, said that the gesture was in response to the challenging economic situation in the country.
He said the efforts were also in support of government’s efforts aimed at ameliorating the sufferings of the vulnerable in the society, following the recent fuel subsidy removal.
“The Foundation is set up to care for the needy, advocate for good governance and embarks on youth empowerment. We have five Trustees in the diaspora.
“What we have done today is to come and extend our hand of fellowship to Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home here in Nigeria.
“For us, we sat down to extend palliatives to the vulnerable but then, there are those beneath the line of vulnerable and here is one of those places.
“We have gone round this Home and there are persons here who are over 70 years, bedridden and still wearing diapers.
“There are those who need 24/7 attention. We have seen the great work that is being done here to help the real vulnerable people,” Ologun, a legal practitioner.”
He added that the Foundation had not only come to present items for the vulnerable but intended to create awareness for greater support for those who are truly vulnerable in the society.
Ologun praised efforts of the Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr Ibijoke, stressing that their support “might not be enough except all public-spirited people come together to help the vulnerable.
“You make a living from what you earn, you make a life from what you give.”
He said the Foundation had used the opportunity of the visit to the Home to get familiarised with some of the needs of the people there.
“We are calling on the government to reach out to the needs of the people while it strives to revive the economy of the country and put the country back on the channel of prosperity and creating common good,” he said.
He said that Section 14 sub-section 2 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution stated that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary responsibility of the government.
Ologun said that the Foundation’s Trustees in the diaspora were passionate about supporting the national vision of enhancing citizens’ fortunes.
The legal practitioner, who expressed delight in the humanitarian services being provided by the school, said that TOP would not relent in putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.
He listed the TOP Foundation Trustees in Diaspora as: Mrs Margaret Gbenro (Maryland,USA); Mrs Temilade Lawal (London); Mr Kayode Adeyemo (Maryland, USA); Adeboye Ayo (Texas, USA); and himself in Nigeria.
He stressed that they were all committed to giving back to the society.
According to him, the Foundation’s previous projects included renovation of a Community Town Hall, Community Medical Center in Giwa Oke Aro, Ogun State, and the provision of palliatives during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Ologun added that the Foundation was also involved in youth and leadership empowerment, alongside skills acquisition interventions in Banku town, Ogun.
Speaking, Mrs Abosede Oyeniran, Principal, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment/School, who appreciated the Foundation, said that children in the school had different health conditions including Dawn Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and others.
“Majority of the children in this school are abandoned by their parents. What these children need is love and acceptance in the society.
“We want to say that gone are the days these children will be locked inside; let them come outside and know that they belong to the society.
“They are human beings. If they cannot cope academically, they can cope in other areas and skills so that they won’t depend on others,” the care giver said.
According to her, the school has different departments including shoe making and leather works, tailoring, painting and others.
She lauded the Lagos State Government for support, and said that the school needed medical personnel like nurses and physiotherapists.
“Most of the children are on beds 24 hours. They cannot make use of their hands, we feed them and staff must be with them for 24 hours to do a lot of things for them.
“The children eat a lot because they are on medication and these medications are very expensive.
“We appreciate our father, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and mother, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.
What we need is support. We cannot do it alone; Lagos State Government cannot do it alone.
“Though we have been receiving support from different NGOS, Churches, Mosques and individuals, we need more like Oliver Twist,” Oyeniran said.
Miss Toma Onu, a cerebral palsy patient, who had been in the home since 1991, applauded the Foundation for remembering them, prayed God to continue to raise TOP Foundation up.
Onu, who uses her legs to paint and do everything, advised special people to look beyond their disability, accept and love themselves.
