Cleric rallies support for charity homes in Kwara

Proprietor of a rehabilitation home in Ilorin, Kwara, Reverend Samuel Abiodun Ajayi, has called on governments and public-spirited individuals in the country to assist charity homes in the face of the present economic realities.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, Reverend Ajayi of “To omo re” said that major streets in the state may soon be flooded with underprivileged children unless owners of charity homes get assistance.

The cleric, who urged the state government to support the proprietors on tax waivers and constant gestures, commended the federal government’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for assisting the centre with several millions of naira to put it in shape.

According to him, the centre that started in 2006 with four pupils in 2008 and is in a rented apartment now needs land to build more spacious place to accommodate its over 80 population.

He listed the challenges confronting the school including: land for expansion, experienced and qualified teachers especially for autistic children, speech and physiotherapy, lamenting that one of the lecturers engaged lectures online from Lagos costing N10,000 per session.

Training materials and feeding were also added as part of problems facing the school.

“Unless the government and private sectors decide to help us, the divine assignment we decided to take up may soon suffer for example consider feeding these students four times daily, you will agree it is not too easy with the nation’s present economic realities. Don’t forget that many of these children can’t talk and unable to express themselves”, he said, adding that the centre still uses charcoal and firewood to cook because it cannot afford gas.

“The training materials, especially for those with speech problems, are also very expensive and some times out of range”.

On the need for land, Reverend Ajayi said that 50 of the pupils come from home, appealing for vehicles to take care of them.

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