AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
There was extreme joy on the faces of children with special needs at the Agbedare Jesus Care Foundation, Orogun, Ibadan, Oyo State last week Saturday as a not-for-profit organization in the state celebrated Christmas in style with them.
Apart from food and lots of refreshments, the NGO brought loads of other gifts, including Christmas cake, to the inmates at the Home. The children who were filled with excitement, sang and danced and also played with other children in the neighbourhood.
For them, it was a lifetime opportunityl to receive Father Christmas that came to visit them from ‘Rome’ courtesy of the Smile Givers Initiative.
The Visioner of Agbedare Jesus Care Foundation, Mrs Beatrice Adenike Agbedare, expressed gratitude to the Smile Givers Initiative for putting smile on the faces of the inmates.
She urged other members of the public, corporate organizations and governments at all levels to emulate the gesture of the Smile Givers Initiative for a better and more progressive society, saying, “We are committed to taking care of children and adults with disabilities. God has been helping us.
“We have been getting support from philanthropic individuals and groups. Today, Smile Givers Initiative has come to lend their support to us and we are glad as the NGO puts smile on our faces, both children and caregivers. We really appreciate them and we appreciate God in their lives.
“I thank God for giving them the inspiration. Many people are richer than them but do not care about the needy in their communities. Many don’t care about their neighbours. I thank God for those who collaborate with us to tend to the need of those who could have been begging on the street.”
She also expressed her goodwill to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his wife, Taminomino, for their gesture of love towards the physically challenged, stating further that “The needs for the society in general and people with special needs in particular are endless, but we implore the government to do more.
“Governor Makinde and his wife are trying their best, we appreciate that. By Friday, they are inviting NGOs in the state for their Christmas party, we like that. But, it is not enough; I mean these special children eat everyday. That is why government should give subvention to support the NGOs.
“We started off in year 2012 and we are made to pay different kinds of fees. If we are to pay rent in this place where we are, we would be paying about N400,000. Look at the children. They are well taken care of. They are not malnourished.
“We want governments at all levels to support our efforts. Local government doesn’t give us anything since we started in year 2012 and I submit my report to them every month. I can speak out. Federal Government gave us support sometimes ago. That was long and we are expecting them again as year 2024 approaches.
Foluso Johnson, representing the Founder of Smile Givers Initiative, Mrs Adetutu Adegunju, said, “Our mission here today is to put smile on the faces of the children. They are vulnerable and most of them might not be able to go out as their peers in the regular setting because of their health status.
“We are using this opportunity to bring the good tidings of Jesus Christ to the children at this season.”
Adegunju explained that Smile Givers Initiative commits its resources to putting smile on the faces of the less privileged children as well as those with special needs as a mark of service to God and as a way of giving back to the society.
She urged other people and organizations to invest in the poor considering the plights of the less privileged at this critical point in the life of the country.
Mrs Vincent of Solomon Igware Foundation gave the children vocational training in line with the saying that there is ability in disability.
